Cardinals vs. Marlins: 101 Game Thread

This big four game series with the Cardinals certainly does not lack for story lines. Jose Fernandez (12-4) is starting for the Marlins tonight and he has been unbeatable at home this season with a 1.47 ERA in Marlins Park. The Marlins are also welcoming back last years batting and steals champion Dee Gordon from an eighty game suspension and Ichiro Suzuki is three hits away from three thousand. All the while the Marlins remain one game ahead of the Cardinals for the second wildcard spot.

The Cardinals are sending Michael Wacha to mound while his record and last start, giving up ten hits but only two runs is shaky Wacha has yet to allow more than three runs in his last eight starts. Fernandez versus Wacha should make from some fireworks on the mound today, back in 2012 when Wacha on the NL championship series MVP Fernandez was rookie of the year.

As mentioned Dee Gordon is back from an eighty game suspension for using performance enhancing drugs. The Marlins could always use an extra bat, despite the 11-0 win against the Phillies last night, the Marlins went twenty four innings without scoring. However it is unknown when Ichiro Suzuki will next his start as it would be nice to see him get three thousand hits at home.

Coming into this series the Cardinals are not waning in confidence. They just ended Mets closer Jeurys Familia's streak of fifty two game consecutive saves and won two of three versus the Mets. So with the Cardinals flying high the Marlins need to bring them back down to Earth.

Notes:

- In his career Jose Fernandez is 26-1 at home and opponents are hitting .183.

- Wacha is making his first career start in Marlins Park, he has a 4.03 ERA on the road this season.

- The Marlins 2-1 versus the Cardinals this season, but are just 5-8 at home versus the Cardinals since 2012.

Bold Prediction: Marlins find a way and beat the Cardinals 6-4