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 (0-3) and three Interleague games against the Chicago White Sox (July 7-9). Tonight, the Cardinals conclude their four-game series with the Marlins looking to avoid a sweep. St. Louis dropped the first three games of the series with two by one run deficits including a 10-9 walk-off loss last night, their 5th of the season.
BABY, DON’T YOU WANT TO GO: Following tonight’s game, the Cardinals will depart Miami and fly to Chicago for a three-game series with the White Sox in the Windy City. This will be the first time the Cardinals play the White Sox since May 24-26, 2021, when they took one of three games.
FLIGHT PATTERN: The Cardinals enter today in last place in the N.L. Central, 12.5 games out of 1st place behind Cincinnati and 5.5 games behind 4th place Chicago. St. Louis has spent 72 of 99 days in last place on this season’s MLB schedule (April 26-May 19 & May 29-present) including the last 38. This season is the Cardinals slowest start since 1978 when they were 34-52 after 86 games.
SUPERFECTA SWEEPS: The Cardinals are in danger of being swept on the road in a four-game series for the first time since June 5-8, 2019, when the Reds took a superfecta at Great American Ballpark. St. Louis has been swept five times this season and twice on the road (Los Angeles-NL Apr. 28-30 & Pittsburgh June 2-4). St. Louis has not lost four straight games to the Marlins since 2014 and have never been swept by the Marlins in a four-game series in the 31-year history between the two franchises. The last time the Cardinals were swept by the Marlins was August 27-29, 1996 in three games.
CARDINALS SELECT LEAHY; OPTION LIBERATORE: Prior to today’s game, the Cardinals selected RHP Kyle Leahy from Memphis (AAA). Leahy was 3-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 28 appearances with the Redbirds, striking out 51 batters in 51 innings. The rookie from Colorado Mesa University will be the highest Cardinals draft pick on the 26 or 40-player roster. With his first action, Leahy will join Jordan Walker, Guillermo Zuñiga and Luken Baker as Cardinals to make their Major League debut this season. LHP Matthew Liberatore was optioned to Memphis.
HEARTBREAK HOTEL: Down to their final strike trailing 8-7 in the 9th inning after erasing deficits of 5-0 and 6-5, rookie Jordan Walker pulverized a 444-foot two-run home run to give the Cardinals the 9-8 lead, only to watch the Marlins rally to win the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 9th off Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time the Cardinals hit a go-ahead home run in the Top of the 9th, only to lose was September 6, 2009, when Rick Ankiel hit a solo home run in the top of the 9th at PNC Park for a 5-4 lead, two batters after current Marlins manager Skip Schumaker struck out to start the inning. The Pirates won in the bottom of the 9th as Garrett Jones knocked in the game-winning run off Ryan Franklin. However, dating back to 1997, there wasn’t a situation where the Cardinals were down to their final batter and homered to take the lead on a home run before losing the next half inning. RARE ERR-OR: Despite their fifth walk-off loss of the season, the way the Cardinals’ lost was rare as they haven’t lost in walk-off fashion on an error since June 28, 2004. Pirates’ Jack Wilson tripled into the left field corner at PNC Park, when the throw from outfielder Ray Lankford overshot the cut and Albert Pujols, trailing the play, fielded the ball and threw wide of third base allowing Wilson to score for the win. The last error by a Cardinals pitcher to result in a walk-off win was September 24, 1995 at Houston, as Rich DeLucia threw away a soft ground ball back to him from Brian Hunter allowing former Cardinal Milt Thompson to score with a 1-0 win in 10 innings. Oddly enough, current Marlins coach John Mabry played in both games for the Cardinals in both of the previous plays nine years apart. – Elias Sports Bureau
20/20 VISION: Brendan Donovan posted a 3-for-5 game last night to extend his career-best and team-high on-base streak to 20 games. In the process, Donovan has moved into the Top 10 in National League batting leaders at .288, ranking 9th, while he’s just on the cusp, ranking 11th in the league with a .378 on-base percentage. Donovan’s 20-game streak is the longest by the Cardinals since Paul Goldschmidt ran off 46 in 2022.
OH, MR. WILLSON!: Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras has been on a tear since his final game in London, starting with a 4-for-4 performance and is 14-for-28 (.500) since, leading all Major League players in batting and on-base percentage (.576) over that period. Contreras has doubled in three straight games, matching his career-high and is one game shy of his career-high of four straight games with multiple hits. Contreras’ 19 doubles this season ranks 2nd among all primary catchers trailing J.T. Realmuto (MIA) with 20.
SHORT CIRCUIT: Prior to last night, the Cardinals had not had a pitcher last only one out in a start before being removed for injury or predetermined pitch count since June 24, 1998. On that day, Cardinals starter Mark Petkovsek surrendered seven runs to the Cleveland Indians recording one out while serving up a grand slam to Manny Ramirez and a three-run home run to Travis Fryman. Cardinals slugger Mark McGwire gave the ‘Birds a brief 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st inning with his 34th of a record breaking 70 home runs that season.
ONE IS THE LONELIEST NUMBER: Last night, marked the Cardinals 18th loss in one-run games (8-18), the 2nd-most in MLB behind Cleveland’s 19 (17-19). Their opponent, the Miami Marlins, not only leads Major League Baseball with 21 wins in one-run games, they’re 21-5 in close encounters, winning 81% of those contests.
TONIGHT’S STARTING PITCHER: RHP JACK FLAHERTY (5-5, 4.60 ERA)
TONIGHT’S GAME
NL Ranks: Ground Into Double Plays (15, T-2nd), GIDP/9 IP (1.57, 1st*), Walks (46, T-3rd), HR/9 IP (0.63, 4th)
- Making his 17th start of the season and his first since 2021 against the Miami Marlins.
- Is trying to extend his winning streak to season-best three games. The Cardinals have won 7 of his last 9 games started dating to May 9.
- Ranks T11th in NL ERA (3.28) since May 15 & 2nd on team – Jordan Montgomery (2.56).
- Was scratched from his scheduled start on June 25 against the Cubs in London, England with right hip tightness.
- Has not allowed a home run in his last 48.2 IP, 3rd-longest active streak among NL pitchers. Last HR allowed was on May 9 at Wrigley Field to the Cubs’ Dansby Swanson.
- Surrendered a career-high 10 hits in back-to-back starts June 13 & 19, most consecutive by a Cardinals pitcher since Chris Carpenter had three straight in 2011 (4/29-5/10). Carpenter also recorded a win in one of those starts (at CHI, 5/10/11).
- Picked up his single-season high 15th GIDP in his last start, his first after having gone 5 straight starts without one. He’s T2nd in the NL in that category with Bryce Elder, ATL, one back of Logan Webb, SF (16). Jack leads all of MLB in GIDP/9 IP (1.57).
- Has walked 5+ batters in four of his 16 starts, ranking T1st in NL walks (46).
- Trails only Wainwright & DeJong in years of Cardinals service on 40-player roster.
- Has held his opposition to a .216 career batting average, leading all Cardinals pitchers in the Live Ball Era (post-1920); Bob Gibson (.228, 2nd).
- Missed a total of 122 games in 2022 due to a right shoulder injury (64 games from April 7-June 14 and another 58 games from June 27-Sept.4). Missed 88 games in 2021 with an oblique injury.
- Since becoming a full-time starting pitcher in 2018, ranks 16th among MLB pitchers with a 10.16 strikeouts/9 IP (min. 500 IP).
- St. Louis sports a 62-52 overall record in Flaherty’s 114 career starts. In his first 51 starts from his MLB debut (9/1/2017) until the 2019 All-Star Break, St. Louis went 21-30 (.412). In his last 63 starts (July 16, 2019-present), St. Louis is 41-22 (.651).
- In 114 career starts, Jack is 37-11 when receiving 2+ runs of support, 30-1 when receiving 3+ runs, and 26-0 with 4+ runs of support. Has received 2 or fewer runs of support in 67 of 114 (58.8%) career starts. Has 24 starts with zero runs of support.
- Is 23-16 in 56 career games (52 starts) at Busch Stadium. His .199 opponent batting average is the lowest in stadium history (min. 100 IP), while his 321 strikeouts (8th) ranks in the Top 10 among all pitchers in the ballpark’s history (since 2006). Trails Chris Carpenter (356) by 35 K’s for 7th all-time in stadium history.
LAST TIME OUT
- Limited the Yankees to just four hits over 6.0 scoreless innings, as the Cardinals won the opening game of July 1 day-night doubleheader, 11-4. The game had nearly three hours in rain delays following the 7th inning.
DATE vs. RESULT DEC IP H R ER BB SO HR NP-S
7/1-1 NYY W 11-4 W-5 6.0 4 0 0 2 4 0 96-60
2023
- Moved passed Ray Sadecki (665) into 23rd place in Cardinals history against the Texas Rangers (6/7).
- Struck out a season-high 10 batters vs. MIL (5/15), his 10th career double-digit strikeout game and 4th against the Brewers. Was his 24th career scoreless start.
- Surrendered career-highs in runs (10), earned runs, tied his career-high in hits (9)
MIAMI MARLINS NOTES:
MARLINS MINUTE
The Marlins today play the finale of four games, looking to complete a four-game sweep against the Cardinals to conclude the first leg of a seven-game homestand. The club will 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 51-37, Miami has set a franchise record for the most wins prior to the All-Star Break. The previous record was 50 wins, done in 2008 (50-45) and 1997 (50-36).
- Is tied with the 1997 team for the best start to a season through the club’s first 88 games in franchise history.
- The Marlins own the second-best record in the NL, behind only Atlanta.
- Miami’s .580 winning pct. ranks fifth in MLB.
- Have won 9 of their last 13, 22 of 31, and 27 of 40.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS
The Marlins are 28-16 at home this season. Miami ranks 3rd in MLB in win percentage at home (.636) this season and is 3rd 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 16-5 including winning 14 of the last 16.
- Own the best record at home through this many games since the team moved to Miami and is tied for the second-best record in Marlins history, behind only 1997 (29-15).
WINNING WAYS
With last night’s win, Miami returned to 14 G over .500, matching its season-high mark. Marks just the 3rd season the Marlins have been at least 14 games over .500 at any point (also ’97 and ’03).
SWEEPING SENSATION
The Marlins today look to sweep the St. Louis Cardinals in a series of three or more games for the first time since Aug. 27-29, 1996 in St. Louis. Have never swept the Cardinals in a four-game series.
- Miami’s last four-game sweep at home came against the Astros from July 7-10, 2011. The Marlins swept the Nationals in a four-game set on July 1-4, 2022 at Nationals Park.
- Would mark the club’s 8th series sweep of the season; swept 4 series all of last year.
- Entering today, Miami is tied with Tampa Bay for second-most sweeps in 2023. Atlanta has 9.
YESTERDAY’S RECAP
Miami walked off winners over St. Louis, 10-9, on Wednesday night. The back-and-forth scoring match that included another 13 hits from the Miami offense was nearly spoiled on A.J. Puk’s third blown save before more late-inning heroics ensued for the Marlins. Heading into the bottom of the ninth down by 1, SS Joey Wendle drove in the game-tying run with an RBI-single and 1B Yuli Gurriel scored the winning run scored on an errant throw on the play. OF Dane Myers recorded his 2nd multi-hit game in as many days.
ONE RUN = MORE FUN
Miami leads MLB with its .808 winning pct. in games decided by one run, including a 13-1 mark (.929) in one-run games played at loanDepot park. Only two teams have ever posted a better mark in one-run games at home in a full season: the 1995 San Francisco Giants (17-1) and the 2005 Boston Red Sox (15-1).
GETTING OFFENSIVE
The Marlins are batting .264 collectively, the third-best mark in MLB behind only Texas (.274) and Atlanta (.274). Tampa Bay (.262) and Boston (.261) round out the top 5.
- Miami has 10+ hits in 35 games this season which is tied with St. Louis for 2nd in the NL, behind only Atlanta (39).
- Miami has scored 2+ runs in the first inning in its last 3 games after entering the week ranked 29th in first inning runs scored with 25. Had only scored 2+ runs in the first frame 6 times through the first 85 games.
THE GREAT DANE
INF/OF Dane Myers matched a club record last night by recording 2 hits in back-to-back games to start his career. Joins Mike Redmond and Ryan Jackson in 1998 as the only three players to collect 4 hits through their first 2 career games.
- Myers, who Miami claimed off waivers from Detroit on Dec. 7, 2022, started the year with Double-A Pensacola but earned a June promotion to Triple-A where he hit .440 (33×75) in 20 G with 2 2B, 6 HR, and a 1.201 OPS.
- Went 2×3 in his MLB debut with 2 runs scored, becoming just the 7th player in club history to record multiple hits and multiple runs scored in their MLB debut. Myers is the first Marlins player to do so at loanDepot park, and just the third Marlins player in franchise history to do so at home.
SUPER COOPER
DH/1B Garrett Cooper is hitting .355 (22×62) in his last 16 G (since June 18 at WSH), hitting safely in 13 of the 16 games with 6 multi-hit efforts and a .985 OPS. Over that span, is tied for 2nd in the NL in RBI (15) and is tied for 6th in hits.
- His .364 AVG (12×33) with RISP & 2 outs is the fourth-best mark in the National League (min. 30 PA), behind only Dodgers’ stars Freddie Freeman (.395), Mookie Betts (.359), and J.D. Martinez (.375).
TODAY’S STARTER – #39 EURY PEREZ
- Eury Rafael Perez, 20, will make his 11th career start today and his first against the St. Louis Cardinals.
- In his last outing on Saturday, July 1, recorded just 1 out and allowed 6 runs (2 home runs) on 7 hits. His season ERA went from 1.34 to 2.47.
- Among NL rookie pitchers this season (min. 42.0 IP), Perez owns the second-lowest ERA (2.47) and ranks second in wins (5), behind NYM’s Kodai Senga (7).
- Is one of just five pitchers to debut before their 21st Birthday to have an ERA of 2.50 or lower through his first 10 starts. – Miami Herald
- Had a 21.0-inning scoreless streak, a team season-high, before allowing 6 runs at Atlanta on July 1. Allowed just 1 ER in 6 starts (33.0 IP) from May 28 to June 25, holding opponents scoreless in 5 of the 6 starts.
- Earned his first MLB win on Thursday, May 18 vs. the Washington Nationals, becoming the youngest pitcher in Club history to earn a win (20 years, 33 days). Threw 5.0 innings, struck out 6, and allowed only 3 hits and 1 run.
- Made his Major League debut on Friday, May 12 vs. the Reds and became the youngest pitcher in Marlins history and youngest Dominican-born starting pitcher (20 yrs, 27 days). Pitched 4.2 innings and allowed 2 runs on 4 hits with 7 strikeouts and 2 walks.
- Pre-2023 was ranked Miami’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 13 overall prospect according to MLBPipeline. Was also named the No. 3 RHP prospect.
