The Miami Marlins came out yesterday and put the first half of the season behind them. With a win over the Milwaukee Brewers to salvage and split the four game series on Thursday, the Marlins started the second half of the season with a win, and are now undefeated in the second half.
The Marlins will have no easy task as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals, for their fifth meeting of the season. The Cardinals beat the Marlins on opening day and the opening of new Marlins Park. The Cardinals also won the first two games of their series last week, once again taking place in Marlins Park. The Marlins were able to win the last game of the series to avoid a sweep.
The Marlins ended an eight-game losing streak to St. Louis with a 5-3 victory June 27, since which, the Marlins have won six of eight, to close within two games of the .500 mark, right before All-Star break. For the team to finish above .500, the Marlins would need to do something that the franchise has not accomplished in 16 years, sweep the Cardinals in St. Louis. The Marlins’ last three-game sweep in St. Louis was Aug. 27-29, 1996.
The Marlins will be without their star right fielder on Friday night, Giancarlo Stanton, but he hopes to return to the lineup sometime this weekend.
East | W | L | PCT | GB | L10 | STRK | HOME | ROAD | LAST GAME | NEXT GAME |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington | 48 | 32 | .600 | – | 7-3 | W4 | 23-14 | 25-18 | 7/5 vs SF, W 6-5 | 7/6 vs COL, 7:05 PM |
NY Mets | 45 | 38 | .542 | 4.5 | 6-4 | W1 | 25-18 | 20-20 | 7/5 vs PHI, W 6-5 | 7/6 vs CHC, 7:10 PM |
Atlanta | 43 | 39 | .524 | 6.0 | 5-5 | W1 | 20-22 | 23-17 | 7/5 vs CHC, W 7-3 | 7/6 @ PHI, 7:05 PM |
Miami | 40 | 42 | .488 | 9.0 | 6-4 | W2 | 22-22 | 18-20 | 7/5 @ MIL, W 4-0 | 7/6 @ STL, 8:15 PM |
Philadelphia | 37 | 47 | .440 | 13.0 | 3-7 | L1 | 17-24 | 20-23 | 7/5 @ NYM, L 5-6 | 7/6 vs ATL, 7:05 PM |
Busch Stadium
Five-year Run PF*: 0.99
Five-year HR PF*: 0.92
Stadium Dimensions:
Left field line—330 ft.
Left-center field—372 ft.
Center field—402 ft.
Right-center field—375 ft.
Right field line—330 ft.
*Five-year regressed park factors provided by Patriot here
Head to Head
Miami Marlins 40-42 | St. Louis Cardinals 44-39 |
BATTING | Marlins | Cardinals |
Batting Average | .243 | .275 |
Runs | 325 | 416 |
Hits | 672 | 793 |
PITCHING | Marlins | Cardinals |
Earned Run Average | 4.20 | 3.97 |
Hits Allowed | 732 | 753 |
Opponent Batting Average | .261 | .263 |
Probable Starters | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ricky Nolasco, RHP |
| Jake Westbrook, RHP |
Nolasco will be pitching for the Marlins, who for his Major League career, has never beaten the Cardinals. Nolasco has to face one of the top offenses in baseball, in the Cardinals. Nolasco has had two straight quality starts, so the Marlins are hoping to see more of the same tonight.
Westbrook will be taking the mound for the Cardinals. Westbrook gave up two runs in six innings against the Marlins on June 25 opposite Nolasco. Westbrook has plenty of experience against Carlos Lee, whom he faced all the time in Houston. Lee is 18 for 40 with two homers and four doubles off Westbrook.
Marlins Projected Lineup:
Order | Player | Proj wOBA vs. RHP |
---|---|---|
1 | Jose Reyes | .349 |
2 | Hanley Ramirez | .346 |
3 | Carlos Lee | .322 |
4 | Logan Morrison | .349 |
5 | Justin Ruggiano | .312 |
6 | Omar Infante | .313 |
7 | Scott Cousins | .284 |
8 | John Buck | .293 |
Prediction:
The Miami Marlins drop this ballgame 5-3, in what will be a close game throughout.