St Louis Cardinals vs Miami Marlins: MLB Friday Night Baseball
First meets worst as the St. Louis Cardinals travel to South Beach to battle the Miami Marlins for Friday night Major League Baseball action. First pitch for this National League battle is slated for 7:10 PM EDT on June 14, 2013, from Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. The Cardinals and Marlins are mirror opposites of each other and we like the Red Birds to sweep this series!
St. Louis is soaring near the top in all MLB categories
It has been a remarkable start to the 2013 MLB season for St. Louis. Not only are the Cardinals sitting atop the Majors with a 43-23 record, but they also own the best team ERA in the league (3.17) and they have the second best team batting average with a .281 mark. RHP Jake Westbrook (2-1 ERA 1.62) comes off the disabled list (elbow inflammation) to make his first start since May 8, 2013. Over 39 innings pitched, Westbrook hasn’t allowed a home run yet this year. He gets a cupcake first start back against the Manatee-like Marlins tonight.
Miami Marlins continue to flounder as the worst team in the Majors
Owners of the second worst team batting average in baseball, with a .224 mark, it’s fairly easy to understand why Miami is currently sitting in last place overall in the Majors with a 19-46 record. Over the course of 65 games, the Marlins have strung together a three game winning streak just twice so far this season. Miami’s lone series win came against the equally inept New York Mets two weeks ago. Rookie RHP Jose Fernandez (3-3 ERA 3.17) has been a rare shining star in Miami as he is the ace of the Marlins pitching staff so far this season.