After one long, locked-in weekend in Milwaukee when a health check was the only reason they could exit their Pfister Hotel room, the Cardinals didn’t leave that informed caution behind and have revamped their pitching plans for the weekend to avoid the specter of injury.
Due to their long quarantine and nine days between games, the Cardinals have opted to push back opening day starter Jack Flaherty’s assignment and instead go with their most recently used member of the rotation. On Friday night, as the Cardinals return to play against the Cubs at Busch Stadium, Daniel Ponce de Leon will pull off the rarity — starting consecutive regular-season games.