ST. LOUIS CARDINALS NOTES:
RECENT REDBIRDS: The St. Louis Cardinals continue 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). This afternoon, the Cardinals play the second of four games against the Marlins at loanDepot Park. Last night, the Cardinals lost to the Marlins 5-4 after holding a 4-2 lead in the 7th inning, before registering their 17th blown save of the season tied for the Major League lead with the Chicago White Sox.
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 10.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and Milwaukee and 3.5 games behind 4th place Chicago. St. Louis has spent 70 of 97 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.
FIRST…AND TEN: With last night’s loss, the Cardinals fell to 10.5 games out of first place, their largest margin out of first place in 2023 and since the final by of the 2016 season when they were 17.5 games behind the first place, and the eventual World Champion, Chicago Cubs on October 2, 2016.
AS AMERICAN AS APPLE PIE ON THE 4TH OF JULY: Adam Wainwright is making his fifth career appearance on Independence Day. The resident patriot and Brunswick, Ga.,-born veteran is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 25.0 IP with 19 strike- outs. His appearances include:
- 2006 at Atlanta (2.0 IP, 0 R in relief)
- 2010 vs. Milwaukee (W, 9.0 IP, 1 R, 9 K, 99 pitches)
- 2012 at Colorado (W, 6.0 IP, 7 K)
- 2013 at Los Angeles Angels (ND, 8.0 IP, 4 R, 3 K).
O’NEILL STARTS REHAB ASSIGNMENT: Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left lower back strain) begins an injury rehabilitation assignment tonight with Memphis (AAA) at Indianapolis (Pirates) as the designated hitter. The Canadian slugger has missed 52 games this season and last saw Major League action on May 4.
SOUTHPAW SWINDLERS: Since the start of the 2022, two Cardinals have shown solid success against southpaws. Paul Goldschmidt leads all MLB players with a .446 on-base percentage against left-handed pitchers, while Brendan Donovan, a left-handed batter, ranks 10th in OBP (.397) against his port-side compadres.
HEY BABY, IT’S THE 4TH OF JULY!: Dating back the start of their franchise in National League play (1892), the Cardinals 4th of July record is 94-96-2 with a 42-54-1 record on the road. This will be the Cardinals fifth straight road game on July 4, losing their last two (2022 at ATL 6-3 & 2021 at COL 3-2) after two wins before COVID-19 shortened season (2019 at SEA 5-4 & 2018 at ARI 8-4). The last time the Cardinals played the Marlins on July 4 was 2017, dropping a 5-2 decision at Busch Stadium. The series is tied 1-1 on July 4 between the two clubs as the Cardinals won 3-2 in St. Louis in 2014.
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 at home at loanDepot Park, posting an 18-6 record at the stadium. Of teams who have played more than one series at the ballpark since 2014, the Cardinals have tied for the highest winning percentage at .750 with the Rays (15-5, .750) and ahead of the Blue Jays (7-3, .700).
DONOVAN STREAK AT 18: Brendan Donovan extended his career-high on-base streak to 18 on Sunday 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-4th in MLB with Patrick Bailey (SF) and Anthony Rizzo (NYY). Ranger’s Corey Seager has the longest active at 22 games.
SHAKE & BAKE: After his recall yesterday, Luken Baker singled in his first plate appearance last night. Baker singled in his first Major League plate appearance against Rich Hill and the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 4 at PNC Park. Baker has hit safely in each of his four starts this season and only failed to record a hit when he entered the game defensively vs. San Francisco on June 13 and had only one at-bat.
THE ARCH EFFECT: With three hits in his first three plate appearances and a walk in the fourth, Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras reached base safely in eight straight plate appearances away from Busch Stadium, which included a 4-for-4 performance in London. The strikeout looking in the 9th inning ended it last night. Contreras has three games with three or more hits this season and twice in the last eight days. His nine hits since June 25 is tied for the Cardinals lead (Goldschmidt) while his .450 batting average since June 25 leads the club and ranks 6th in all of MLB.
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado doubled in his third straight game, his longest streak of the season and since 2019 when he doubled in four straight games with the Colorado Rockies. Arenado’s career-high is five straight on the final five games of the 2015 season.
OPENING BELL: Cardinals starting pitchers have not allowed a home run in six straight games, their 2nd-longest streak of the season and one shy of their high of seven (5/25-6/2).
BLOWN UP: Last night, the Cardinals bullpen suffered their 17th blown save of the season, leading all National League teams and tied with the Chicago White Sox for the MLB lead. Seven different Cardinals have blown a save opportunity this season, which ranks 11th among the 30 teams in Major League Baseball. the Oakland Athletics have had 10 different players blow a save this season. In 2003, the Cardinals set a franchise record as 12 different pitchers recorded a blown save opportunity.
TODAY’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP ADAM WAINWRIGHT (3-3, 7.45)
TODAY’S GAME
- Makes his 11th start of the season & 468th career appearance (401st career start).
- Has a career .800 winning percentage (8-2) vs. the Marlins, his 3rd-best among opponents with 4+ starts behind Houston (13-2, .867) and Colorado (12-1, .923).
- Of pitchers in MLB history to make 10+ starts vs. the Marlins, Waino is tied with Randy Johnson (.800, 8-2 in 14 GS) for the 2nd-best win pct behind only Jason Schmidt (.889, 8-1 in 16 starts).
- Has pitched on Independence Day four times in his career: 2006 at Atlanta (2.0 IP, 0 R in relief), 2010 vs. Milwaukee (W, 9.0 IP, 1 R, 9 K, 99 pitches), 2012 at Colorado (W, 6.0 IP, 7 K), and 2013 at Los Angeles Angels (ND, 8.0 IP, 4 R, 3 K).
- Today is Wainwright’s 401st career start, tying Bob Forsch for 2nd all-time among Cardinals pitchers behind only Bob Gibson (482).
- Wainwright is one of 13 pitchers (two Cardinals) in MLB history to make 400 or more career starts exclusively with one organization. Clayton Kershaw (414) joins Wainwright as the two active. Bob Gibson ranks 6th, while Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators leads at 666.
- Is two wins shy of 200 career and 12 wins from 210 (T-2nd all-time Cardinals history with Jesse Haines).
- At age 41, Waino is one of four active players age 40+ with Rich Hill (43), Nelson Cruz (43) and Miguel Cabrera (40). Turns age 42 on August 30.
- Pitched 5.0+ innings in his first eight starts of the season, while departing with the lead in five outings.
- Missed the first 33 games of the season due to a groin injury he suffered while working out during the WBC Finals. Made two injury rehab starts for Springfield (AA) and one for Memphis (AAA).
BUSCH STADIUM III (2006-present)
- Needs one Home win to pass Jesse Haines (107) for 2nd all-time among Cardinals.
- Has made 209 career starts at Busch Stadium III, 19th-most at a single stadium in MLB history. Jack Morris (210 at Tiger Stadium) ranks 18th.
- Has 107 career regular-season wins at Busch Stadium III, tied with Wilbur Cooper (107 at Forbes Field) for 22nd-most wins at a single stadium.
- Is one of 22 pitchers in MLB history to hold a stadium’s record for both appearances (240) and starts (209). Joins Bob Forsch (233 app/207 GS at Busch II) as Cardinals on that list.
- Has 1,190 regular season strikeouts at Busch Stadium III, 15th-most all-time at a single stadium. Jim Palmer (1,191 SO at Memorial Stadium) ranks 14th.
- Is tied with Lance Lynn and Trevor Rosenthal for most Postseason appearances at Busch (13). Leads in PS starts (8), IP (62.0), strikeouts (72) at Busch III.
LAST TIME OUT
- Suffered second consecutive loss last Thursday vs. Houston, allowing six runs on six hits with three walks over 1.2 innings in a 14-0 shutout defeat at Busch Stadium. Marked Wainwright’s 400th career start.
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the second of four games against the Cardinals to continue a seven-game homestand. 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 Truist Park.
FISH BYTES
- At 49-37, own the third-best record in the National League and the sixth-best in MLB.
- Miami is off to its second-best start to a season through the club’s first 86 games in franchise history, behind only the 1997 World Series team (51-36).
- Have won 7 of their last 11, 20 of 29, and 25 of 37.
- Miami’s 23 comeback wins are tied for the sixth-most in MLB. Marks the Marlins’ most comeback wins prior to the All-Star break since 2012, when they had 25.
- The Marlins are 9-5 against the NL Central this season, having won 5 of the last 6 G.
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.
WINNING WAYS
Miami sits 12 G over .500, 2 shy of its season-high mark. This year marks just the 3rd season the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 at any point (also ’97 and ’03).
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
The Marlins are 26-16 at home this season. Miami ranks 4th in MLB in win percentage at home (.619) this season and is t-4th overall in wins at home. Lost five straight home games from May 2-4 (Braves sweep) and May 12-13 (first two against Cincinnati). Since then, have gone 15-5.
- Have won 11 of their last 14 games at home and five consecutive home series openers.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami emerged with their 23rd comeback victory of the season, 5-4, over St. Louis in the series opener. The Marlins erased the late inning deficit on back-to-back walks in the seventh inning followed by an RBI double by PH Yuli Gurriel (1×1, 2 RBI) to tie the game at 4, his first multi-RBI game of the season. C Nick Fortes (2×3, 1 RBI) followed with an RBI single to put the Fish on top for good. LHP A.J. Puk recorded his 14th save of the year. LHP Braxton Garrett (5.2 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 K) did not factor in the decion and remains undefeated in his last 10 starts (Miami is 9-1 in this span).
BRAX ON THE ATTACK
LHP Braxton Garrett is undefeated in his last 10 starts, dating back to May 14 (team is 9-1 in this span, 13-3 overall in his starts). Has gone 3-0 with a 2.26 ERA over the 10-start stretch, holding opponents to 1 or 0 earned runs in seven of the starts and a .191 batting average with 70 strikeouts and 9 walks.
- Has walked 1 or 0 batters in 14 of 16 starts; the most such games among NL starters; trailing only SEA’s George Kirby and KC’s Zack Greinke who each have 15.
IN A PINCH
In pinch-hit situations, Miami hitters have gone 15×48 (.313), the third-best mark in MLB behind only Washington (8×24) and Tampa Bay (13×40).
ONE RUN = MORE FUN
Miami leads MLB with its .800 winning pct. in games decided by one run, including a 12-1 mark (.923) in one-run games played at loanDepot park.
GREAT WHEN LATE
The Marlins are batting an MLB-best .281 (266×947) in the seventh inning or later this season. Their 266 hits in those frames also mark the most in MLB, while their 138 runs scored are seventh-most.
- In 2022, ranked 30th in MLB with a .214 AVG in the seventh or later and 29th with just 375 hits (30th, OAK – 374 H).
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.
LA REGADERA
2B Luis Arraez leads MLB with his .388 AVG (119×307), .438 OBP, and 119 hits. Has struck out just 17x in 338 PA, a .050 K/PA, the lowest mark in MLB among qualifiers.
- His .388 AVG is the highest through a player’s first 80 games in club history while his 119 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 86 games of a season since Chipper Jones in 2008 (.389).
- 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 – #44 JESUS LUZARDO
- Jesus Luzardo, 25, will make his 18th start of the 2023 season and second career start against the St. Louis Cardinals today.
- In his only career start at St. Louis on April 19, 2022, pitched 4.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 7 hits with 2 walks and 3 strikeouts.
- His most recent start on June 29 at Boston marked his second consecutive scoreless outing. Tossed 6.1 innings and allowed just 3 hits. Struck out 9 batters.
- 9 of his 17 outings this year have been quality starts, the most among Marlins starters and is tied for the sixth-most among left-handed pitchers in all of MLB (last, June 29 at Boston).
- Has 6 starts of 8+ strikeouts; tied for the fourth-most among NL pitchers this season.
- Is 2-2 this season at loanDepot park with a 2.65 ERA (54.1 IP/16 ER) in 9 starts and is 4-3 with a 4.64 ERA (42.2 IP/22 ER) in 8 starts away.
- Over career, is 12-12 with a 3.96 ERA (206.2 IP/91 ER) in 36 starts (43 apps.) at home and 7-11 with a 4.76 ERA (157.0 IP/84 ER) in 26 starts (35 apps.) away.
- Left-handed batters are hitting .190 (15×79) vs. Luzardo in 2023 with only 1 home run and a .511 OPS while right-handed batters are hitting .254 (73×287) with 10 home runs and an .756 OPS.
- Held streak of 17 consecutive starts with 5+ strikeouts from Sept. 16, 2022 to June 6, 2023 before striking out just 3 batters at Seattle on June 12. Streak is the fifth-longest in MLB since 2022.
