ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals begin their final road trip prior to the All-Star Break with four games against the Miami Marlins (July 3-6) and three Interleague games against the Chicago White Sox (July 7-9). Tonight, the Cardinals play the first of four games against the Marlins at loanDepot Park, their first regular season matchup with former Cardinals coach and player Skip Schumaker, now managing the Marlins. The Cardinals arrived in South Florida at 9:00 p.m., last night following a three-game series with the New York Yankees at Busch Stadium, taking 2-of-3.
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 9.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and Milwaukee and 3.5 games behind 4th place Chicago. St. Louis has spent 69 of 96 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) … This season is the Cardinals slowest start since also beginning 35-48 in 1990.
FEELS LIKE HOME: The Cardinals and Marlins share the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium Complex for Spring Training, but since Aug. 13, 2014, the Cardinals have felt more than at home at loanDepot Park, posting an 18-5 record at the stadium. Of teams who have played more than one series at the ballpark since 2014, the Cardinals have the highest winning percentage at .783, edging out the Rays (15-5, .750) and Blue Jays (7-3, .700).
MERCADO DFA’D, BAKER RECALLED: Prior to tonight’s game, the Cardinals designated OF Oscar Mercado for assignment. First baseman Luken Baker was recalled from Memphis (AAA). Baker made his Major League debut in Pittsburgh on June 4 and stayed with the club two weeks. He was tied for the Triple-A lead in home runs (22) and ranked 4th in RBI (60) at the time of recall.
DONOVAN STREAK REACHES 18: Brendan Donovan extended his career-high on-base streak to 18 yesterday going 3-for-4 with a home run (#9) and a hit by pitch. The Cardinals utility man has tied the Cardinals longest on-base streak of the season with Nolan Arenado and Jordan Walker. Currently the streak ranks T-5th in MLB with Patrick Bailey (SF). Reds rookie Matt McLain has the longest active at 23 games.
OPENING BELL: During the series against the New York Yankees, the Cardinals starting pitchers posted a 1.59 ERA (17.0 IP) including a three-hitter on Sunday matching their season-low for team hits allowed against an opponent dating back to the opening weekend against Toronto (4/1). Cardinals starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in five straight games, their 2nd-longest streak of the season (5/25-6/2).
FIRST THINGS FIRST: The Cardinals are looking for their second road trip opening win this season. This season, the Cardinals are 1-5 on road trip openers earning their lone win at Wrigley Field on May 8 en route to a season-best 5-1 road trip (Chicago-NL 2-1; Boston 3-0). The Cardinals have won the first game of their last six series openers with the Marlins dating back to 2018, when they lost at loanDepot Park on Aug. 6, 2018, 2-1.
IRST COURSE; FISH FRY: Dating back to June 12, 2019 spanning 16 games, Cardinals starting pitchers have not allowed more than three in any start (including 6 scoreless starts) vs, Miami, with the Cardinals boasting a 12-4 record with a 1.68 ERA over those games. The starting pitchers have only allowed one home run over their last 14 games when Bryan De La Cruz homered off Adam Wainwright (4/19/22) at loanDepot Park.
INTERNATIONAL WATERS: The St. Louis Cardinals announced a historical international player signed today when the team signed amateur right-handed pitcher Chen-Wei (shen-way) Lin, the franchise’s first player ever signed out of Taiwan. Lin, 21, is from Taiwan City, Taiwan, and played college baseball at Chinese Culture University in Taipei, Taiwan before debuting in the United States Collegiate Summer League last year. Lin, who stands at 6-feet-7 inches, will soon report to the Cardinals Complex in Jupiter, Fla., to begin his professional career. In the MLB Draft League this year, Lin made four starts for Frederick (Md.) Keys in the Collegiate Summer League and posted a 3.24 ERA over 16.2 innings pitched.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP MILES MIKOLAS (4-5, 4.44)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Games Started (17, T-3rd), Innings Pitched (99.1, 8th), Hits Allowed (115, 2nd), Earned Runs (49, T-8th), Walks/9 IP (1.99, 4th).
- The 2022 N.L. All-Star is making his team-high 18th start of 2023, 161st career appearance & 132nd career start.
- Is facing the Marlins for the 1st time since April of 2022 and carries a 14.0 scoreless innings streak against Miami into tonight game.
- Is one win shy of 50 for his career, and needs a win to avoid matching the longest losing streak of his career (5 games in 2019). The Cardinals were 0-5 in his five June starts with last win coming May 30 vs. KC. His last road win was 5/25 at CIN.
- Needs just 1/3 of an inning to reach 100 IP for the 4th time in his ML career. Leads the Cardinals in innings pitched (99.1) and is tied for 3rd on the team in wins (4).
- Received just one run of support while on the mound in his first four June starts, losing 2-1, 8-4, 6-1 and 3-0.
- Has the 3rd lowest MLB per game run support avg. (3.26), with Zack Greinke (KC, 2.78) as the lowest. The Cardinals played to 2-1 decisions (2-wins, 1 loss) in three straight games he started from 5/25-6/4.
- Has received no more than three runs of support in 14 of his 17 starts this season.
- Has allowed 16 of his 50 runs in the 1st inning (8.47 ERA, .390 BA); His ERA after the opening inning is 3.61 (33 ER/82.1 IP).
- Finished May 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six starts, ranking among MLB leaders in innings pitched (38.0, 2nd), ERA (5th), and wins (T-7th).
- Ranks 4th among all-time Busch Std. III leaders in ERA (2.95; min. 300 IP), T9th in all-time wins (21) & 8th in innings pitched (371.2).
- Since joining the Cardinals in 2018, Mikolas ranks 3rd in MLB (min. 600 IP) in fewest walks (133) behind only Justin Verlander (125) and Jacob deGrom (131). His 1.64 walks/9 IP are 2nd to Zack Greinke (1.62) for the fewest.
- Was one of 10 MLB pitchers and two Cardinals (Wainwright) with a perfect 1.000 fielding pct. (31 total chances) in 2022. Hasn’t committed an error since 8/2/18 vs. COL. One of two pitchers with 100 total chances and zero errors since 8/3/18 (Erick Fedde, WSH). Ranks 9th among MLB pitchers in fielding pct. (.987) since 2018. (min. 100 TC).
- Ranks 2nd behind only Adam Wainwright (2,615.2 IP) in most career innings pitched (822.1) among active Cardinals.
LAST TIME OUT
- Took a no-decision last Wed. (6/28) as the Astros rallied for 5 runs in their 8th inn. to win the game, 10-7. Three of Miles’ 5 runs allowed came in the opening inning.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
6/28 HOU L 10-7 — 5.2 7 5 5 3 4 0 86-55
2023
- Suffered 3-0 loss to Washington at Nationals Park on 6/21, losing his 4th-straight decision in the month of June. Played in a steady rain much of the afternoon, the game took just 2:12 to complete and came on heels of his 2:01 outing in loss to the Mets on 6/16.
- Did not allow more than three runs in 10 starts (4/16-6/4) with a 4-0 record, 2.24 ERA over 60.1 innings pitched.
- Had both his season-best 4-game win streak and season-best 16.0 scoreless innings streak snapped in his start at PIT (6/4) in the Sunday morning Peacock game.
- Matched career high 10 strikeouts over 8.0 scoreless IP in 2-1 win vs. Kansas City on 5/30, his longest scoreless outing of the season and third overall. Was his 4th straight winning decision and extended his scoreless innings streak to a team-high 16.0 innings
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins tonight begin a seven-game homestand with the first of four games against the Cardinals. The club will then face the Phillies for a three-game series this weekend before the All-Star Break. Miami is coming off a 3-3 road trip, sweeping the Red Sox at Fenway Park and then getting swept by the Braves.
- At 48-37, own the third-best record in the National League and the sixth-best in all of Baseball.
- Miami is off to its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 85 games in franchise history, behind only the 1997 World Series team (50-35).
- Despite suffering a weekend sweep at ATL, have won 6 of their last 10, 19 of 28, and 24 of 36.
WINNING WAYS
Miami sits 11 G over .500, 3 shy of its season-high mark. This year marks just the 3rd season the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 (also ’97 and ’03).
INDEPENDENCE DAY
The Marlins are 14-15 all time on the Fourth of July, including a 7-3 mark at home on the holiday. Are playing at home on July 4th for the first time since 2018 when they defeated Tampa Bay. Will face the Cardinals on Independence Day for the third time, having lost in 2014 at Busch Stadium and winning in St. Louis in 2017.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The Marlins are just 12-15 in the first games of series this season. However, have won their last four series openers at home.
HOME BOYS
The Marlins are 25-16 at home this season. Miami ranks 3rd in the NL in win percentage at home (.610) this season and is 5th overall in MLB in wins at home. Lost five straight home games from May 2-4 (Braves sweep); 12-13 (first two against Cincinnati). Since then, have gone 14-5.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami fell in Atlanta, 6-3, and suffered the series sweep. RHP Sandy Alcantara suffered the loss, allowing 4 runs over 5.0 innings with 6 strikeouts. 2B Luis Arraez (2×4) recorded the Marlins’ only multi-hit game, driving in two runs.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR
The Marlins are sending two players to Seattle for the Midsummer Classic, the second straight year the team is sending more than one player to the All-Star Game.
- 2B Luis Arraez was named the starting 2B for the NL squad. Led all second basemen in the first round of voting with 1,464,802 votes and finished with 53% of the vote in Phase 2. Is his second career All-Star selection having earned the honor last year with Minnesota. Marks the first time the Marlins had a player win a fan election in back-to-back seasons, following Jazz Chisholm Jr. also at 2B last year, since Hanley Ramirez in three straight seasons from 2008-10.
- DH/OF Jorge Soler will join him in Seattle, earning his career first All-Star selection.
ATLANTA AND EVERYTHING AFTER
The Marlins have been swept twice this season – both times by the Braves. Are 1-9 vs. the Braves in 2023 with an 8.68 ERA and a -54 run differential (83-29), allowing 29 HR in 84.0 innings pitched. Are 47-28 (.627) against the rest of Baseball with a 3.50 ERA, outscoring opponents 312-280 (+32), and holding opponents to 61 HR in 671.2 IP.
SOLER POWER
DH/OF Jorge Soler is tied for 3rd in the NL with 22 home runs this season. Marks the most home runs by a Marlins player prior to the All-Star break since 2017 – Marcell Ozuna (23) and Giancarlo Stanton (26). Mike Lowell owns the club record for most home runs before the All-Star break, with 28 in 2003.
GOLDEN GLOVES
Marlins infielders have combined for a .989 fielding position in 2023, committing just 18 errors in 1,642 total chances. Matches the D-Backs for the second-best fielding pct. by an infield in the Majors behind the Padres (.991).
JOHNNY COME LATELY
The Marlins are batting an MLB-best .288 (176×611) in the eighth inning or later this season. Their 96 runs in those frames are tied with Houston for fifth-most in the Majors.
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins are batting .260 this season, the fourth-highest mark by an NL club in 2023. Ranked 27th in the Majors last year at .230. Marks the club’s highest batting average prior to the All-Star break since 2017 (.269). Have recorded 33 games this season with 10+ hits, the second-most such games in the NL, trailing only Atlanta (37).
- Since losing 10-1 to the Padres on June 1 at loanDepot park, the Marlins have outscored opponents 131-99 (+32).
BRAX ON THE ATTACK
LHP Braxton Garrett is undefeated in his last 9 starts, dating back to May 14 (team is 8-1 in this span, 12-3 overall in his starts). Has gone 3-0 with a 1.98 ERA over the nine-start stretch, holding opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs in seven of the starts and a .196 batting average with 64 strikeouts and 9 walks. Overall, has held opponents to 1 or 0 ER in 10 of his 15 starts this season, marking the most such outings among all NL starters.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .389 AVG (118×303), .440 OBP, and 118 hits. Has struck out just 17x in 334 PA, a .051 K/PA, the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- His .389 AVG is the highest through a player’s first 79 games in club history while his 118 hits are also the most by a Marlins player through his first 79 games of a season. Is the highest by any Major Leaguer through a team’s first 85 games of a season since Chipper Jones in 2008 (.391).
- His 34 multi-hit games are tied for the most in MLB and are two shy of the club record for most in the first half (36) set by Miguel Cabrera in 2006.
TODAY’S STARTER – #29 BRAXTON GARRETT
- Braxton Garrett, 25, will make his third career start against the St. Louis Cardinals and 16th start (17th app.) of the season today.
- Last faced St. Louis on June 28, 2022, went 4.2 innings allowing 5 runs on 7 hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
- In his last start on Thursday, June 22 vs. Pittsburgh, tossed 5.0 innings, allowing just 1 run on 3 hits and 2 strikeouts to earn his fourth win. Marked his fourth consecutive start of 1 earned run or less.
- Has held opponents to 1 or 0 ER in 10 of his 15 starts; leads NL starting pitchers.
- Finished June with a 3-0 record and a 2.22 ERA (28.1/7), walking just 3 batters while striking out 38 in 5 starts and posting a 0.78 WHIP. The only two players in Club history to finish the month of June with a lower WHIP (min. 25.0 IP) were Jose Fernandez in 2016 (0.70) and Brad Penny in 2001 (0.73).
- Dating back to May 14, the Marlins have won 8 of his 9 starts including 6 consecutive. Has posted a 1.98 ERA (50.0/11) in this span holding opponents to a .176 AVG (31×176). Miami is 12-3 overall in his starts.
- In 20 career starts (21 apps.) at home, owns a 3.93 ERA (103.0 IP/45 ER) and has gone 4-7 with 125 strikeouts. In 21 starts away (22 apps.), is 5-5 with a 3.82 ERA (108.1 IP/46 ER) and 97 strikeouts.
- Career, RHB vs. Garrett: .271 AVG (167×617), .333 OBP, .779 OPS. LHB vs. Garrett: .236 AVG (46×195), .307 OBP, .651 OPS. Has allowed only 4 HR in 195 AB vs. LHB.
