JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Former NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter is on track to be the St. Louis Cardinals’ opening-day starter, former 20-game winner Adam Wainwright is back from reconstructive elbow surgery, Jaime Garcia is a top left-hander and underrated Kyle Lohse led the staff in victories.
Then there’s the slimmer, trimmer Jake Westbrook.
The 34-year-old sinkerballer was inconsistent last season, then virtually unused during the postseason. He shed 20 pounds at the team’s urging and wants to show he can be counted upon.
Westbrook’s 12-9 record was accompanied by a 4.66 ERA and 1.51 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning), and he was bothered by plantar fasciitis on both feet.
