Cards open NLCS with Miller, Lynn available in 'pen

ST. LOUIS -- Still without an announced Game 4 starter, the Cardinals will open the National League Championship Series with both Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller available out of the bullpen.

Miller has pitched just one inning since he wrapped up his regular season with a Sept. 25 start. He said earlier this week that he would likely need to throw an extended bullpen session to get his arm conditioned for multiple innings if St. Louis planned to give him a start in this series. The fact that the Cards have not yet had him do that perhaps hints that the organization is leaning toward starting Lynn in Game 4.

Lynn last pitched a week ago, losing to the Pirates in Game 2 of the NL Division Series. In that game, Lynn allowed five earned runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He faced the Dodgers once during the regular season, holding them scoreless and striking out nine in a victorious six-inning outing back in May.

Manager Mike Matheny did not indicate how long the Cardinals will wait before officially naming their starter for Game 4, which will be played Tuesday in Los Angeles (7 p.m. CT on TBS).