ST. LOUIS — It’ll be Chris Carpenter’s turn to pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday in the National League Division Series. They are thankful for that since it’s a pivotal game for them.

The 37-year-old right-hander gets the call against the Washington Nationals in Game 3 of the best-of-five NLDS, and the Cards can’t wait to hand the New Hampshire native the ball for the 1:07 p.m. start (MLB Network).

Carpenter — who grew up in Exeter, N.H., graduated from Trinity High in Manchester and maintains a residence in Bedford — is 9-2 in postseason competition, the best record of any pitcher in franchise history. Bob Gibson went 7-2 from 1964 to 1968, losing his first and last World Series decisions. Carpenter owns a 3.05 ERA in playoff action.

“Just having Carp around — period — makes this team better,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “He has been a strong voice for us since the day he came back. And the fact that he came back was pretty remarkable, considering the surgery and the timing he had.

“But he’s a mentor, and he loves the role of talking to the guys. That’s the way he learned the game, and that’s the way he’s passing it on. He’s always trying to help somebody, no matter who it is. We are fortunate to have him.”

This time, Carpenter will be matched against former Cardinal Edwin Jackson in the first game at Washington. The Cardinals and Nationals split the initial two games of the series at Busch Stadium.

“It’s a big game, just like the rest of them,” Matheny said, looking ahead to Wednesday. “Part of it is our workman-style approach. We just show up and play the game. That’s the beauty of having guys who have been here before; they understand that. We do the same thing every day, and the guys know they just have to do their part.”

Carpenter’s part is a pivotal one, because it has been a long road back for him. He underwent surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome this season and pitched in only three games, the first on Sept. 21 He went 0-2 with a 3.71 ERA but showed signs of his typical effectiveness. Carpenter last pitched Oct. 1 against Cincinnati in St. Louis.

“Clearly, the way Carp finished the season, we feel confident that he can also give us quality starts,” Cards’ general manager John Mozeliak said about postseason play.

Since 2004, Carpenter is 95-44 (.683) for the Cardinals, giving him the NL’s best winning percentage over the eight-year stretch. He’s also second to John Tudor (.705) in all-time winning percentage for pitchers in franchise annals.

“I’ve pitched in plenty of games that have mattered, so I’m going out there with the same focus and the same program — to get outs and give us a chance to win,” Carpenter said. “Hopefully, my stuff is sharper as I get out there more often.”

Matheny will go with 16-game winner Kyle Lohse on Thursday in Game 4 of the NLDS against Washington left-hander Ross Detwiler. Adam Wainwright likely would work Game 5, if necessary, on Friday.

“I think they (starting pitchers) understand it all begins with them,” Matheny said. “They’ve been answering the bell.”

St. Louis third baseman David Freese, the MVP in last year’s National League Championship Series and also the World Series MVP, said the Cardinals are primed for anything in the playoffs. He learned his lesson in 2011.

“I think that last year I was more naive to all of this,” he said. “Everything’s slower and more relaxing now. You understand you have to do your own thing to prepare and focus on winning.

“But this is what we live for, and to be back here for a second time is awesome,” Freese said of the postseason. “You try to do it again, and you can’t ask for anything more.”