Lackey will start Game 1 of the NLDS on Friday, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

The 36-year-old will be rewarded for his outstanding regular season (2.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP) with the Game 1 nod against the winner of Wednesday's NL Wild Card game. Lackey was especially good down the stretch for St. Louis, posting a 2.29 ERA and 40:9 K:BB in his final six starts. Lance Lynn and Michael Wacha figure to follow in Games 2 and 3, respectively.

Lackey's start was postponed on Saturday due to rain.

While nothing official has been announced yet, it's likely Lackey's start will be pushed back to Sunday with the Cardinals set to play a double header against the Braves.

Lackey earned a no decision Sunday against the Brewers, allowing just one run with seven strikeouts and two walks in seven strong innings.

The veteran was in line to win the game upon exiting, but a seven-run eruption in the ninth inning gave Milwaukee the win. Lackey has been excellent this season, with a 2.69 ERA through 214 innings, and his next scheduled start will come Saturday against the Braves.

Lackey won his 13th game as he allowed one run on nine hits over seven innings Tuesday against Cincinnati. He struck out seven and didn't walk a batter.

Lackey was strong, as he induced 12 swinging strikes and 10 ground balls in 106 pitches. His only blemish was a solo home run by the red-hot Jay Bruce in the first innings, and he sliced and diced the Reds lineup for the rest of the night. Lackey is on a roll, with six consecutive quality starts and a beautiful 50:13 K:BB in 47.1 innings in that span. His ERA is down to 2.74.

Lackey (12-9) shut out the Brewers over seven innings Thursday, striking out eight while allowing five hits and a pair of walks.

Lackey's stunning season continues, as he reduced his already career-best ERA to 2.79 -- its lowest mark since his second start of the year. At age 36, little was expected of Lackey in his second year with the Cardinals, but there's some kind of magic for pitchers in St. Louis. He next gets a rematch with the Reds, who whiffed 10 times against him last Friday.

Lackey allowed just two runs over seven innings against the Reds on Friday night, but the game was suspended due to rain with the score tied 2-2 heading into the eighth inning.

The game will be completed on Saturday prior to the regularly scheduled game.

Lackey took a no decision despite a quality start Monday against Washington, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks over six innings. He struck out eight.

Lackey was erratic but electric, as he induced 17 swinging strikes in 105 pitches and had Nationals off balance, recording seven ground balls against three fly balls. Lackey now has quality starts in 14 of his last 15 outings and has dropped his ERA from 3.74 to 2.87 in that span.

Lackey picked up the win on Wednesday, giving up one run on seven hits and a walk through seven innings against the Diamondbacks.

After a difficult start last time out against the Padres, Lackey was in top form against Arizona, needing just 88 pitches to cruise through the Diamondbacks order. While he allowed a baserunner every inning except the sixth, he gave up just two extra-base hits and kept the ball low inducing six groundballs, two of which were of the double play variety. Lackey, who has been extremely successful at home (8-3, 1.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP) will face off against the Nationals at Busch Stadium on Monday.

Lackey (10-8) struggled on Saturday, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out seven in a 93 loss to the Padres.

This was one of Lackey's worst starts of the season and it was strange to see in the friendly confines of Petco Park. This performance ended an impressive quality start streak of 13 games. A 2.99 ERA is very good, but his 4.02 xFIP would indicate he's been the source of fortune. He'll look to start a new quality start streak when he takes on Arizona next Wednesday.

Lackey nearly went the distance Saturday against the Marlins, but picked up the win via two earned runs in 8.1 innings pitched.

Lackey didn't do his best preventing hits, allowing nine, but he at least spread them out by never allowing more than two in a single innings. One of his runs against was also scored on a balk. With Saturday's performance, he extended a quality start streak extending back to June 8 against the Rockies in Coors Field.

Lackey got the no-decision, giving up three earned runs across six innings of Sunday's loss to the Brewers. He struck out three while giving up four hits, two of which were home runs, and two walks.

He needed just 66 pitches to get through six innings but was lifted for a pinch hitter and was in line for a win, but it was blown in the eighth. Sunday was his 18th quality startincluding 11 in a rowthough he's only got nine wins to show for it. Though his ERA rose to 2.91, he is experiencing a renaissance at 36-years-old.

Lackey fell to 9-7 despite a quality start Tuesday against Cincinnati, as he allowed three runs on two walks and six hits over six innings. He struck out five.

Lackey extended his quality start streak to 10 by the slimmest of margins. He has gotten just three runs of support in his past two starts and probably deserves a better winning percentage than his current .562 mark. Expect that to improve as the Cardinals cruise into the playoffs.

Lackey (9-6) gave up one run on two hits and one walk while striking out eight in eight innings in Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the Reds.

The Cardinals squandered another strong outing from Lackey, who has posted a 1.67 ERA during his last nine outings -- all quality starts. St. Louis has been shut out for 22 straight innings and have scored in just one of the past 30 innings. Hopefully, Lackey will get more run support as he'll draw the Reds again in his next scheduled start Tuesday.

Lackey's next start will likely be pushed back to Wednesday with Jaime Garcia (groin) expected to take the hill Tuesday against the Reds, Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com reports.

If the preceding comes to fruition, Lackey would be afforded an extra day of rest, as he attempts to extend his quality start streak to nine appearances. During that run, he's posted a 5-1 record, 1.75 ERA, 1.165 WHIP, and 37:14 K:BB in 56.2 innings.

Lackey (9-5) threw seven strong innings, giving up two runs, six hits and two walks while striking out five in Thursday's win over the Royals.

Lackey is 5-1 with 1.75 ERA in his last eight starts, working seven or more innings in all but one of them. He's third in the National League in innings pitched with 131.1 for the season, and he simply continues to get it done. He'll draw the Reds in his next scheduled start Tuesday.

Lackey (8-5) beat the Mets with seven innings of one-run ball Saturday. He allowed ten hits, walked one, and struck out three.

Lackey picked up right where he left off before the All-Star break, turning in his seventh straight start of at least 6.2 innings and two or fewer runs allowed. The 36-year-old is pitching as well as ever, although his 80.6 percent strand rate suggests luck has played a role in his fantastic season to date. Even with minor regression, Lackey's ability to keep the ball in the yard (0.72 HR/9) coupled with his strong walk rate (2.17) will allow him to continue putting up strong performances almost every time out. Lackey will look to stay hot in his next start Friday against the Braves.

Lackey (7-5) allowed one run on five hits over 6.2 innings in a no-decision in Pittsburgh on Saturday, while striking out five and walking two.

Lackey left the game with a 3-1 lead, but the Pirates ended up tying the game in the eighth inning. The 36-year-old's 7-5 record at the All-Star break is exactly halfway to his 14-10 record from a year ago, but his 2015 ERA is almost full run lower (2.99 to 3.82). Lackey has churned out six straight quality starts since getting roughed up in Colorado on June 8, and he seems primed to carry his current hot streak into the second half.

Lackey tossed a gem Monday, shutting out the Cubs for seven innings to earn the win.

Since a disastrous outing in Colorado in early June, Lackey hasn't allowed more than two runs in a start. The veteran now owns a 3.09 ERA this season after struggling through 10 starts in St. Louis a year ago. Lackey's next start will come this weekend against the Pirates.

Lackey (6-5) allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six Wednesday against the White Sox.

Including Wednesday's seven inning effort, Lackey has worked seven or more innings for the sixth time in seven starts. The 36-year-old has had four straight quality starts and he'll look to make it five in a row in his next start when he faces off against the other Chicago team -- the Cubs -- on Monday.

Lackey struck out five and walked three while holding the Cubs to two runs on eight hits over seven innings in a no-decision Friday night.

The Cards scratched out a run against the Cubs in the eighth inning and enabled Lackey to spit the hook in the process. Although his strikeout rate has dipped this season (17.4% K%, 6.6 K/9), Lackey has found a way to remain effective as an innings eater for the St. Louis rotation. He'll face the Padres at home in his next start Thursday.