Jaime Garcia gives St. Louis Cardinals an extra advantage

ST. LOUIS -- For Game 2 of the National League Division Series on Saturday, the St. Louis Cardinals will start left-hander Jaime Garcia, who has authored the best season of his MLB career between two disabled list stints.

That it's Garcia taking the mound offers an extra advantage for the Cardinals, because most of the Chicago Cubs' hitters haven't faced him since 2012.

A completely different style of pitcher from power-throwing right-hander John Lackey, who baffled Chicago on two hits in a win Friday night, Garcia relies on a sinker that moves unpredictably and often late to create weak contact.

"We will do our homework on him," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of Garcia, "but yeah, I think when a pitcher faces a group of hitters for the first time, he should have an advantage with that."

Garcia went 10-6 with a 2.43 ERA in 20 starts, giving St. Louis the boost it needed to win a division title after ace Adam Wainwright was sidelined for five months with a torn Achilles tendon. Now he makes a postseason start few thought he would make.

"It's something I don't take for granted," Garcia said. "I'm grateful and so thankful to be here, and I'm going to enjoy every moment and try to do my best."