St. Louis @ Miami preview
Marlins Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 28, 2013 ) Miami 0, St. Louis 1
The St. Louis Cardinals weren't slowed by one sputtering National League East team. The Cardinals will look to continue their good fortune against another on Friday as they open a three-game set at the Miami Marlins. St. Louis took two of three from the New York Mets and has won 10 of 14 versus that division to open up some breathing room atop the NL Central.
David Freese is expected to return to the Cardinals' lineup after receiving a day off following the end of his career-best 20-game hitting streak. He'll face a team that is surprisingly trending upward as the lowly Marlins have won six of their last 11 contests. Miami hasn't fared well versus the NL Central, winning just three of 14 games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Jake Westbrook (2-1, 1.62 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (3-3, 3.17)
Westbrook will make his first start since mid-May after being sidelined with elbow inflammation. The 35-year-old excelled in a pair of rehab starts with Double-A Springfield, striking out 10 without walking a batter. After pitching at least six innings in his first five starts, Westbrook was rocked for season highs in both runs (four) and hits (nine) in 5 1/3 frames of a no-decision versus the Cubs on May 8.
Fernandez authored his second consecutive stellar performance, but did not record a decision in his last time out. The 20-year-old Cuban rookie yielded one run on three hits and struck out seven in six innings versus the Mets on Saturday. Fernandez has pitched well at home, allowing just five runs in as many starts - but has yielded three homers.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis OF Carlos Beltran has hit safely in 12 straight contests and will face Fernandez for the first time.
2. Miami OF Juan Pierre is riding a season-high nine-game hitting streak, but is just 1-for-17 in his career versus Westbrook.
3. The Cardinals have won 22 of 33 games since Westbrook last pitched.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Marlins 1