Cardinals' Wacha to start Saturday vs. Reds

The St. Louis Cardinals have set a tentative date for right-hander Michael Wacha to return to their rotation.

Wacha was shelled for six runs (five earned) in his last start on Sept. 9 vs. the Cincinnati Reds. After the start, manager Mike Matheny made the decision to skip him in the rotation because Wacha's fastball wasn't up to par following a long stint on the disabled list due to a shoulder problem. The 23-year-old has shown improvements in subsequent bullpen sessions, prompting Matheny to reinsert him this weekend.

The Cardinals presumably want Wacha set for their impending postseason run, as his postseason resume is impressive to say the least, as he posted a 4-1 record with a 2.64 ERA during the team's playoff run a year ago.