St. Louis @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2011 ) St. Louis 3, Florida 2
THE STORY: Feeling right at home in South Florida, the St. Louis Cardinals look to make it 15 out of 20 at Sun Life Stadium when their four-game series with the Marlins resumes Saturday. St. Louis has won the first two games of the series to stay three games behind Milwaukee in the National League Central. The Marlins, meanwhile, are depleted by injuries, with five of the nine players in the Opening Day lineup sidelined.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (8-7, 3.92 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Chris Carpenter (6-8, 3.85).
Nolasco is coming off two effective outings. But Matt Holliday is 8-for-14 with two homers and six RBIs against him, and Albert Pujols is 8-for-15 with two homers and six RBIs. Nolasco is 0-3 with a 7.06 ERA in six career appearances against the Cardinals. Batters are hitting .278 against Carpenter, who was tagged for five runs and seven hits in a five-inning start against Milwaukee on Monday. He is 3-3 with a 2.78 ERA in 11 career starts against Florida.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (55-57): Shortstop Hanley Ramirez missed his second straight game Friday with a sprained shoulder he suffered diving for a pop fly Tuesday in New York, but he is expected to play Saturday. Florida placed second baseman Omar Infante on the disabled list Friday and called up infielder Joe Thurston from Triple A New Orleans. Thurston went 1-for-4 with a strikeout Friday.
ABOUT THE CARDINALS (60-53): Third baseman David Freese, hit on the left side of his batting helmet with a pitch Thursday, is feeling better and likely won’t be placed on the DL. But he is not expected to return to the lineup at least until Tuesday’s series opener against Milwaukee. Albert Pujols hit into his MLB-leading 25th double play Friday, but scored the game-winning run after hitting his 21st double. He has 19 RBIs in his last 23 games. Lance Berkman leads the NL with 28 homers and is tied for fifth with 74 RBIs. He hit his first triple of the season Friday.
FINAL PITCH: The Cardinals lead the season series 4-2. ... St. Louis rookie Lance Lynn earned his first save Friday, stranding the bases loaded in the ninth to preserve the 3-2 win.