Ace's woes threaten Cardinals' shot

— -- ST. LOUIS -- The secret is out.

St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright is hurting and isn't mechanically sound at the moment. It means the Cardinals may have to grind out a series win in the NLCS -- if that's possible -- without their best pitcher at the top of his game.

"My arm doesn't feel great but it certainly should be a lot better results-wise than that," Wainwright said after dropping Game 1, 3-0 to the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night. "I should be able to repeat my pitches."