LOS ANGELES — Randy Wolf has seen a lot in his 11-year career, just never the playoffs. He’s finally getting a chance in the stadium where he watched the Dodgers as a kid.
The 33-year-old left-hander proved to be the most consistent starter for the repeat NL West champions, although he quickly rejects the label of staff ace.
“I almost despise that word,” Wolf said Tuesday. “A guy like Chris Carpenter, you could consider him an ace. He’s done it year in, year out. He’s the guy who is almost a perennial top-five Cy Young voting guy.”
Carpenter will start for the NL Central champion Cardinals in Game 1 tonight against Wolf. The 2005 Cy Young winner is a strong contender again this season, boasting a 17-4 record and an NL-best 2.24 ERA.
Wolf describes himself in less lofty terms.
“I’ve kept the team in the game,” he said. “With this staff, we could have an ace on any given day. That’s why I don’t like to use that term. It’s just try to pitch as well as you can, that’s the key.”
Wolf proved durable this season, setting career highs with 34 starts and 214 1/3 innings. He ended the regular season strongly, going 6-1 in his final nine starts with a 2.51 ERA. Overall, Wolf was 11-7 with a 3.23 ERA that was second on the staff to Clayton Kershaw’s 2.79.
Kershaw will start Game 2 on Thursday, while Adam Wainwright goes for the Cardinals.
The Dodgers open the series with two pitchers who lack playoff experience, between Wolf and Kershaw, a 21-year-old left-hander.
Manager Joe Torre went with the two lefties because the Cardinals batted .234 against southpaws compared to .274 against right-handers.
Carpenter takes no comfort in the fact that Dodgers slugger Manny Ramirez comes into the playoffs having batted .218 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in his last 25 games.
“If you ever take Manny Ramirez for granted, you’re crazy, no matter what he’s swinging,” Carpenter said. “I’m not concerned if Manny is 0-for-50. He can hit.”
Division series
Best of five; all games on TBS; * if necessary
DODGERS VS. ST. LOUIS
Today: St. Louis (Carpenter 17-4) at Los Angeles (Wolf 11-7), 7:37 p.m.
Thursday: St. Louis (Wainwright 19-8) at Los Angeles (Kershaw 8-8), 4:07 p.m.
Saturday: Los Angeles at St. Louis (Piñeiro 15-12), 4:07 p.m.
*Sunday: Los Angeles at St. Louis
*Tuesday, Oct. 13: St. Louis at Los Angeles
YANKEES VS. TWINS
Today: Minnesota (Duensing 5-2 or Blackburn 11-11) at New York (Sabathia 19-8), 4:07 p.m.
Friday: Minnesota at New York (Burnett 13-9), 4:07 p.m.
Sunday: New York (Pettitte 14-8) at Minnesota
*Monday: New York at Minnesota
*Wednesday, Oct. 14: Minnesota at New York
ANGELS VS. RED SOX
Thursday: Boston (Lester 15-8) at Los Angeles (Lackey 11-8), 7:37 p.m. p.m.
Friday: Boston (Beckett 17-6) at Los Angeles (Weaver 16-8), 7:37 p.m.
Sunday: Los Angeles (Kazmir 10-9) at Boston (Buchholz 7-4)
*Monday: Los Angeles (Saunders 16-7) at Boston (Lester 15-8)
*Wednesday, Oct. 14: Boston at Los Angeles
