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 evening, the Cardinals play the third of four games against the Marlins at loanDepot Park after losing the first two (5-4 & 15-2).
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 11.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and 4.5 games behind 4th place Chicago. St. Louis has spent 71 of 98 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 35-50 in 1990.
WAINWRIGHT & KNIZNER TO INJURED LIST; HERRERA, HUDSON AND THOMPSON RECALLED FROM MEMPHIS: Prior to today’s game with Miami, RHP Adam Wainwright (right shoulder strain) and C Andrew Knizner (right groin area) were placed on the 15-day and 10-day Injured Lists. C Iván Herrera, RHP Dakota Hudson and LHP Zack Thompson were recalled from Triple-A Memphis. RHP James Naile was optioned to Memphis. Herrera was on the Cardinals Taxi Squad in London and was active for the two games. Hudson was recently added as the 27th player in last Saturday’s doubleheader against the Yankees and threw 2.2 scoreless innings. Thompson was on the Cardinals Opening Day oster and made 11 relief appearances before being optioned on May 2. He’s started nine games (10 app.) in Memphis since.
NOT THE FIREWORKS YOU WANT: Yesterday’s game was one to forget for the Cardinals as they allowed a season-high 15 runs and tied their season-high with 19 hits allowed, their most since 19 on Opening Day vs. Toronto. It marked their worst July 4th loss in franchise history (-13 run differential) and the most runs allowed to the Marlins in their series history, surpassing a 13-3 loss to Florida at Busch Stadium II on June 15, 1994, as Rick Sutcliffe allowed eight runs in two innings with Benito Santiago and Kurt Abbott launching home runs for the Fish.
DONOVAN ESTABLISHES NEW SEASON-HIGH ON-BASE STREAK AT 19: Brendan Donovan extended his career-high on-base streak to 19 games with a single in the 9th inning in his lone plate appearance yesterday after entering as a defensive replacement in the 8th inning. The 19-game on-base streak is the longest by a Cardinals player this season and is 4th-longest active in MLB behind the Rangers’ Corey Seager (23), Braves’ Ronald Acuña, Jr. (22) and Padres’ Juan Soto (21).
O’NEILL PLAYS IN REHAB ASSIGNMENT: Outfielder Tyler O’Neill (left lower back strain) began his injury rehabilitation assignment with Memphis (AAA) last night and was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a fly out as the designated hitter before being removed for pinch-hitter Juan Yepez in the top of the 6th inning. The Canadian slugger has missed 53 games this season and last saw Major League action on May 4.
OH, MR. WILLSON!: Since tying his career-high with a four-hit game in London, Willson Contreras has been on a tear batting .458 (11-24), the 2nd-highest batting average in Major League Baseball over that period. Contreras has been exceptional on the road reaching base safely four times in London and 6-of-9 times over the last two games in Miami. His batting average raised 23 points from .203 to .226 and has posted three multi-hit games including four doubles. Contreras ranks 2nd among National League primary catchers with 18 doubles and 3rd with 27 extra base hits.
A PAINFUL MARK: Yesterday afternoon, Paul DeJong was hit by pitch giving the Cardinals 23 hit by pitch since June 1, tied with the Cincinnati Reds for the most in Major League Baseball. At least one Cardinals batter has been hit by pitch in the last four games and earlier this season set the franchise mark for most consecutive games with a hit batter at seven (6/6-13). The Cardinals have two players in the Top 10 in hit by pitch (Brendan Donovan, 8, T-5th & Willson Contreras, 7, T-8th) with Dylan Carlson (6) and Paul DeJong (5) trailing.
HEAT SAVE: Since taking over the closer role on June 17, RHP Jordan Hicks is 5-for-5 in save opportunities. The fireballer, who leads all Major League pitchers with 332 pitches over 100 MPH this season (Jhoan Duran, MIN, 2nd, 254), ranks 7th among MLB pitchers with five saves since June 17.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: LHP MATTHEW LIBERATORE (1-3, 5.68)
TONIGHT’S GAME
- Making his 8th start of the season (9th app.) and 15th career start (18th app.).
- Former 1st round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays is making his first career regular season start/appearance vs. the Miami Marlins.
- Faced the Marlins twice in Grapefruit League action, once in 2020 and once in 2021.
- It’s his 4th career start vs. NL East club; the Cardinals have won all three of his previous starts vs. NL East clubs (at PHI & at ATL in 2022, at NYM in 2023).
- Has made 10 of 14 career starts on the road. Still looking for his first career winning road decision (0-4, 8.41 ERA, 35.1 IP); or win away from Busch Stadium.
- Is 3-1 career in his home starts. Is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in four home starts (5 app.) at home this season.
- All three of his career wins have come against N.L. Central opponents and all were scoreless starts allowing just three hits.
- Holding opposing LHB to .192 BA (5-26) and RHB .327 (33-101). Issued his first walk of the 2023 season to a LH batter (29 TBF) in his start vs. SF (6/12) – M. Conforto.
- Has allowed just 2 HR’s this season in 31.2 IP, both coming on the road.
- The Cardinals are 8-6 in his 14 career starts and 11-6 overall in his 17 total appearances.
LAST TIME OUT
- Become the first Cardinals rookie to start a regular season game against the NYY, when he drew starting assignment in Game 2 of July 1 doubleheader. Dropped a 6-2 decision and failed to get out of the 5th inning for 3rd-straight start.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/1-2 NYY L 6-2 L-3 4.1 7 3 3 1 1 0 56-39
2023 SEASON
- Made an International start in London, England vs. CHI (6/25). Announced as the starting pitcher less than 15 hours prior when Jack Flaherty was scratched due to injury. Received a no decision after allowing four unearned runs in the 1st inning, but clamped down and did not allow another run for the next five outs.
- Allowed his 1st HR of the 2023 season in his start at TEX (6/6). The 3rd inning solo HR by the Rangers’ Nathanial Lowe snapped his string of 13.0 homerless innings pitched to begin the season.
- Began the season with Memphis (AAA) and made eight starts before getting recalled to St. Louis for a May 17 start vs. Milwaukee.
- Made his 2023 debut and threw 5.0 scoreless innings of three-hit ball with three walks and six strikeouts. Posted the exact same line in each of his first two starts vs. the Brewers (5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 SO).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
- Was leading all Minor League pitchers at any level with 46.0 innings pitched and all Triple-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts (3rd in MiLB) at the time of his recall.
- Posted a 10-strikeout game at Gwinnett (4/12).
- Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April and International League Pitcher of the Month for April with a 3-0 mark and 2.14 ERA over 33.2 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts covering six starts in March/April.
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.
STARTING PTICHER – 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.
