ST. LOUIS — The Cardinals should have consulted a cynic.
If so, it could have been suggested during the extensive planning leading up to this National League wild card that baking a few shreds of doubt into the postseason plans for All-Star closer Ryan Helsley would have been wise.
At least until the high-velocity right-hander proved in a game setting that the middle finger he jammed during a late regular-season stumble in Pittsburgh was not going to turn into a finger on the series scale in favor of the Phillies.
