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Cardinals vs. Marlins: Game 102 Thread

The Miami Marlins will battle the St. Louis Cardinals, in game two of a four game series. Both teams are tied for second in the NL Wild Card. St. Louis will send Mike Leake to the mound, while the Marlins will counter with Jose Urena.

By Dylan Goldman
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Miami Marlins will battle the St. Louis Cardinals in the second game of a four game weekend series on Friday evening at Marlins Park. Both teams enter with identical 55-47 records, which means those two squads are tied for second in the NL Wild Card. These two teams will not meet again this season, which makes this series that much more important for the playoff aspirations of both clubs.

The Cardinals defeated the Marlins, 5-4 in game one of the series last night, giving Jose Fernandez only his second career loss at home. The Cardinals will send a pitcher to the mound that has dominated the Marlins, both at Marlins Park and away from Miami. The Cardinals will send Mike Leake to the mound tonight, and he’s 3-0 with a 0.44 ERA at Marlins Park, which is the lowest ERA of any pitcher to make at least three starts at Marlins Park.

Pitching Match-up:

Team Starter ERA FIP ZIPs Projected ERA
MIA Jose Urena 5.34 4.17 4.49
STL Mike Leake 4.24 3.86 3.85

In six starts overall against the Marlins, Leake is 5-1, with a 1.33 ERA, and a .194 batting average against. Leake has showed great plate control recently, as he’s pitched a career-high 25 consecutive innings without allowing a walk. This season, Leake has been average. He has a compiled a record of 7-8, and he’s struck out 94 batters. He’s posted a WHIP of 1.24, and he’s allowed a batting average of .277.

Opposing the right-hander will be Jose Urena, who may be making his last start for the Marlins, at least for the foreseeable future. After the Marlins acquired pitchers Andrew Cashner and Colin Rea on Friday, Urena is likely to be sent down to Triple-A New Orleans. Urena, who’s started in two games since being called up, has put together two solid outings, as he’s allowed only two runs in 11 2/3 innings.

Today's Lineups

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS MIAMI MARLINS
Greg Garcia - 3B Dee Gordon - 2B
Aledmys Diaz - SS Martin Prado - 3B
Matt Holliday - LF Ichiro Suzuki - LF
Matt Adams - 1B Giancarlo Stanton - RF
Yadier Molina - C Marcell Ozuna - CF
Jeremy Hazelbaker - RF Derek Dietrich - 1B
Tommy Pham - CF J.T. Realmuto - C
Kolten Wong - 2B Miguel Rojas - SS
Mike Leake - RHP Jose Urena - RHP

Notes:

- Ichiro is in the starting lineup, and he has 2,298 career hits, as he sits two hits away from joining the 3,000 hit club.

- Dee Gordon will be playing in his second game back from an 80-game PED suspension.

- The Cardinals have hit home runs in 18 of their last 19 games.

Prediction: Ichiro gets to 3,000 as Marlins defeat Cardinals, 3-2

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