Cardinals Look to Snap Skid in Miami
The St. Louis Cardinals enter Miami on Monday night desperate to halt a five-game losing streak. Sitting at 61–64 and fourth in the NL Central, the Redbirds are chasing momentum as the season edges into its final stretch.
The Marlins (59–65, third in the NL East) haven’t fared much better, but they’ll have home-field advantage at loanDepot park, where first pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. EDT.
Pitching Matchup
St. Louis will hand the ball to Matthew Liberatore (6–10, 4.08 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 88 K), while Miami counters with promising right-hander Eury Pérez (5–3, 3.58 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 60 K).
The numbers tilt slightly toward Miami, as Pérez has kept hitters off balance with excellent command and a sub-1.00 WHIP. Liberatore, meanwhile, has been serviceable but inconsistent, giving up hard contact in stretches.
Storylines to Watch
- Power Factor: The Marlins are 20–10 when they hit two or more home runs. Their path to victory often hinges on the long ball.
- Vulnerability: St. Louis is just 27–49 when allowing at least one home run, a stat that could loom large against Miami’s power bats.
- Road Woes: The Cardinals are 26–34 on the road this season, continuing a frustrating pattern away from Busch Stadium.
Players to Watch
- Alec Burleson has been a bright spot for the Cardinals’ offense, slashing .283 with 19 doubles, a triple, and 15 home runs.
- Pedro Pagés has been hot at the plate, going 13-for-29 over his last 10 games with three doubles and three home runs.
- For Miami, offensive consistency has been elusive, but the lineup remains capable of sudden bursts of production.
Recent Form
- Marlins (last 10): 3–7, .241 batting average, 5.64 ERA, outscored by 8 runs.
- Cardinals (last 10): 4–6, .257 batting average, 4.30 ERA, outscored by 12 runs.
Injury Watch
- Cardinals: Key names remain sidelined, including Nolan Arenado (shoulder, IL) and Victor Scott II (ankle, IL), while Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan are day-to-day.
- Marlins: A crowded IL has hurt depth, with Braxton Garrett, Max Meyer, and Ryan Weathers among the arms sidelined.
Both clubs sit outside of playoff position, but for the Cardinals, snapping the skid is as much about morale as the standings. With the season slipping away, Monday’s matchup in Miami offers a chance to reset — or risk falling further behind.
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