Miami @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2012 ) Miami 3, St. Louis 2

Once left for dead, the surging Marlins have moved to one game under .500. They go for their eighth win in 10 games Saturday as their three-game series continues in St. Louis. Left fielder Logan Morrison is a big reason why Miami is reviving its season. He homered in Friday’s 3-2 win, extending his hitting streak to nine games. He has four homers and 11 RBIs during that span.

Now 4-4 on their season-high 10-game homestand, the Cardinals sit 2 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central. St. Louis banged out 12 hits against four Miami pitchers but grounded into a pair of double plays and wound up leaving 11 men on base. The defeat dropped the Cardinals to just 21-20 at home; they went 45-36 there a season ago.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS-M, FS-F

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Carlos Zambrano (4-6, 4.14 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Kyle Lohse (8-2, 2.80 ERA)

The Cards scored four runs on eight hits in 6 2/3 innings against Zambrano on June 26 in Miami, taking advantage of five walks. Zambrano is 12-7 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 career appearances vs. St. Louis. Batters are hitting .230 against Zambrano, who will need to cut down on his walks (51 in 95 2/3 innings). Carlos Beltran is 4-for-24 (.167) against Zambrano, and Rafael Furcal is 4-for-26 (.154).

Lohse, the team’s most reliable starter, went 7 1/3 innings against the Marlins in that June 26 matchup, allowing two runs on four hits. He’s thrown at least seven innings in five straight starts. Lohse has shown tremendous control, walking 19 in 109 1/3 innings. He’s 4-2 with a 4.60 ERA in eight career appearances against the Marlins.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Cards C Yadier Molina flew to Puerto Rico for the funeral of his wife’s grandfather and will miss the entire series.

2. Cards OF Matt Holliday extended his hitting streak to nine games Friday, going 1-for-4.

3. The Marlins are hovering near .500 despite being outscored by 54 runs.