Giolito struck out nearly a third of the batters he faced. The top two finishers in each division gain berths in the expanded postseason during this pandemic-affected season. ... There’s some uncertainty at the front of the rotation, where both Clevinger (elbow impingement) and Lamet (biceps tightness) had early exits from their final regular-season starts. That's just, oh, a 42-23 record, 3.36 ERA and 632 strikeouts between them. ... With 2019 MLB saves leader Kirby Yates out for the season with bone chips in his right elbow, the Padres obtained Rosenthal from Kansas City on Aug. 29 to lock down the closer’s role. … LHP Austin Gomber will take the rotation spot of RHP Dakota Hudson (right elbow tightness), who is out for the rest of the season. 19 overall by the Mets in the first round of the 2020 Draft. His curve drops 69.6 inches on average, top-five in MLB and most among lefties. ... Flaherty has struggled after a breakout season a year ago, but he has been dominant against San Diego, going 1-0 with a 1.10 ERA in three career starts. 7 overall by Padres in 2012), Arsenal4-seam fastball -- 53% usage, 93.8 mph, 57 K2-seam fastball -- 4% usage, 93.6 mph, 1 KCutter -- 0.3% usage, 93.5 mph, 1 KSlider -- 16% usage, 83.7 mph, 46 KCurveball -- 25% usage, 74.5 mph, 68 KChangeup -- 2% usage, 84.8 mph, 0 K. Fried throws a stunning 12-6 curveball. In 2013, as a junior, Flaherty pitched a 13–0 record with a 0.63 ERA, striking out 112 batters in 89 innings while o… The Cardinals (26-24) hold a one-game lead on Cincinnati (27-27) and Milwaukee (26-26) for second place in the NL Central with one week left in the regular season. He is the final guaranteed season of the two-year, $25 million contract he signed I free agency. The Cardinals will need Flaherty and the rest of the rotation (3.86 ERA) and bullpen (4.06 ERA) to slow down San Diego’s potent offense given their own inconsistency at the plate. ... Rosenthal, INF Greg Garcia and OF/DH Tommy Pham all began their big league careers with the Cardinals. His slider and curveball have different enough speeds but similar enough action to keep hitters off-balance. David Adler is a reporter for MLB.com based in New York. “He’s a special player,” St. Louis. Now when hitters see a breaking ball come out of Fried's hand, they can't just wait on the big slow curve. Flaherty held hitters to an 86.1 mph average exit velocity, 10th-best of the 152 pitchers with at least 250 batted balls against them last season. Injuries have robbed them of RHP Dakota Hudson, RHP Carlos Martinez and several other pieces in their bullpen.