PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla.--Only three Cardinals are listed as likely to pitch in Wednesday's exhibition against the New York Mets here and all have been standouts this spring.
Jack Flaherty, who will start the first game of the season in Cincinnati on March 26, is targeted to pitch four innings, as well as Daniel Ponce de Leon. Flaherty has a 1.93 earned run average for two outings and Ponce de Leon has a 0.00 ERA, having struck out seven in five innings.
Another hard thrower, Junior Fernandez, also is slated. That righthander has allowed opponents to bat just .