St. Louis @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2013 ) St. Louis 4, Miami 5

The team with the worst record in baseball looks to beat the squad with the best mark for the second straight day when the Miami Marlins host the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Miami slugger Giancarlo Stanton had three hits and two RBIs and rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez struck out a career-high 10 as the Marlins won the opener of the three-game set. St. Louis dropped to 4-3 on a nine-game road excursion that concludes Sunday.

The Marlins became the last team in the majors to reach 20 wins with Friday’s victory while St. Louis is 19 games above .500. Miami has won four of its last six games and has been bolstered by the return of Stanton, who is 6-for-16 with a homer and five RBIs in four games since returning from a six-week absence because of a hamstring injury. The Cardinals struck out 13 times in the opener with Matt Carpenter fanning three times and Allen Craig and David Freese both striking out twice.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (8-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (0-4, 3.91)

Lynn has won three straight decisions since suffering his lone to the Chicago Cubs on May 7. He has a 1.11 WHIP and is holding opposing batters to a .213 average. Lynn has never started against the Marlins but has struck out five in two innings over two relief appearances.

Koehler is making his seventh start of the season since becoming part of the rotation May 12. He took a no-decision in his last outing when he gave up four runs and six hits in seven innings against the New York Mets. Koehler has a 2.00 ERA in 18 home innings, covering four appearances (two starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins OF Juan Pierre is batting .381 with five steals during a 10-game hitting streak.

2. Cardinals OF Carlos Beltran is hitting. 356 with four homers and 13 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak.

3. Miami 1B Logan Morrison (back) could miss his second straight game.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Marlins 2