DETROIT • The last time the Cardinals went to the World Series five years ago, they had a pitching staff anchored by Adam Wainwright, who still is here. They had a lineup spearheaded by Yadier Molina, who hit .319, and Matt Carpenter, who had 55 doubles that year and batted .318, making him a Most Valuable Player candidate just as he is now.
But they also had five prominent rookie or second-year pitchers aged 22 to 25 in Joe Kelly, the oldest at 25, Trevor Rosenthal (23), Shelby Miller (22), Michael Wacha (22) and Carlos Martinez (22).