Carpenter starting Game 7 for Cards on short rest

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Chris Carpenter is starting on three days’ rest in Game 7 of the World Series for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Manager Tony La Russa said he decided Friday morning after consulting with pitching coach Dave Duncan, who
gave the thumbs up. The team made it official several hours before the deciding game against the Texas Rangers.

"Dave had a real heart-to-heart with him to gauge just how ready he was to pitch just physically, not mentally but physically,” La Russa said. “And then I think if he would be available to pitch, he probably would have pitched in this game sometime.

The bottom line: the Cardinals wanted their best pitcher on the mound.

“He’s the guy our club wants to have out there, and he’s ready to take it,” La Russa said. “Plain and simple. He’s our guy.”

Carpenter started on short rest for the first time of his career in the first round of the NL playoffs against the Phillies and lasted only three innings, allowing four runs on five hits in his shortest outing of the year.