WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.—John Gant last started in a regular-season game for the Cardinals in 2018 but, with Miles Mikolas still a ways from pitching in a game this spring, Gant will take Mikolas’ starts in Florida and maybe more when the season begins.
His first start of the spring came here Friday night against St. Louisan Max Scherzer, the Washington Nationals’ longtime ace. And Gant went longer than any other Cardinals starter this week, going until there were two out in the third although his first inning "rolled over" after he gave up a three-run homer to Alex Avila.