Jupiter, Fla. ? The last time Adam Wainwright was on the mound he was closing out the World Series clinching victory for the St. Louis Cardinals. The next time the right-hander pitches a meaningful game, it likely will be as a starter in the team’s rebuilt rotation.

But Wainwright isn’t assuming anything.

“I’m competing to start,” Wainwright, 25, said Wednesday. “Saying to myself I’m starting right now is selling short a couple of big names and big arms in this clubhouse and I am not going to do that.”

Still, Wainwright is expected to open the season as part of the rotation, as long as closer Jason Isringhausen doesn’t suffer a setback in his rehabilitation from hip surgery. It was Isringhausen’s injury that thrust Wainwright into the closer’s role last October, one the rookie handled with poise and success.

Wainwright did not allow and earned run in 92â3 postseason innings and saved the clinching games against the Mets in the NLCS and the Tigers in the World Series.

“He’s really fearless, which is a great quality for a pitcher,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Wainwright’s ability to command four pitches made him a top prospect as a starter in the Braves and Cardinals organizations, where he was 49-40 with a 3.76 ERA in 135 minor league starts. He was too good coming out of spring training a year ago to send back to Class AAA Memphis.

So for the first time in his career, he found himself pitching out of the bullpen. Working mostly as the setup reliever until taking over the closer role for Isringhausen, Wainwright had a 3.12 ERA in 75 innings during the regular season, and four saves in the postseason.

“I feel like I could help this team either way but I grew up starting,” Wainwright said. “I always wanted to start in the big leagues so that is another thing I get to say I have done if I get to do it but at the same time there’s nothing like getting those last three outs.”

Wainwright’s peers are confident he’ll make a smooth transition back to starting.

“He’s just going to have to get used to being out there longer, not just the 45 pitches or whatever,” pitcher Chris Carpenter said. “He’s a strong kid who knows how to pitch. He’s got great stuff.”