St. Louis Cardinals vs
Miami MarlinsPredictions & Preview

Struggling Cardinals to face Marlins in series opener: Marlins favored to win

This content provides a preview of the opening game of a three-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Miami Marlins in South Beach. The Cardinals are looking to bounce back after a tough interleague series against the Yankees, while the Marlins are hoping to avoid a sweep by the Red Sox. The Marlins previously won two out of three games in an earlier series against the Cardinals. Please note that this article was published before the conclusion of both teams' games on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for updates from MLB cappers.

Betting Odds

• Moneyline: Cardinals +115 | Marlins -127
• Spread: Cardinals +1.5 (-195) | Marlins -1.5 (+165)
• Total: Over/Under 8 (-110)
• Based on the moneyline, the implied probability that Miami will win straight-up is 56%.

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals suffered their fourth consecutive loss in a defeat to the New York Yankees on Saturday night. Currently standing fourth in the NL Central with a 61-63 record, they are 18 games behind the Brewers for the top spot. Additionally, the Cardinals are 4.5 games behind the Mets for the final wild card spot in the National League playoff race. Despite recording 12 hits in the game against the Yankees, featuring notable performances by Alec Burleson and Pedro Pages, the team fell short. Nolan Gorman, Pedro Pages, and Masyn Winn hit home runs in the loss. Sonny Gray took the loss on the mound, allowing six runs over five innings. Matthew Liberatore will start the upcoming game for the Cardinals, holding a 6-10 record and a 4.08 ERA this season. He has struggled recently, going 0-2 in his last three starts. Liberatore has faced the Marlins a few times in his career, with mixed results.

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins suffered their third straight loss, falling to the Boston Red Sox on Saturday. With a record of 58-65, they currently sit third in the NL East, 12 games behind the Phillies. They are also seven games behind the Mets for the final playoff spot in the National League. While Miami had eight hits in the game, including home runs from Troy Johnston and Agustin Ramirez, they were unable to secure a win. Eury Perez will be starting for the Marlins, boasting a 5-3 record with a 3.58 ERA. In his last start, Perez earned a win against the Guardians, pitching five innings with four runs allowed. Despite a loss in his only career start against the Cardinals, Perez has shown strength at LoanDepot Park, with a 5-4 record. Prior to joining the rotation, Perez performed well in the minor leagues with Jupiter and Jacksonville.

Struggling Cardinals to face Marlins in series opener: Marlins favored to win.

Both teams have faced recent struggles heading into Sunday's game. The Cardinals have lost four consecutive home games, while the Marlins have dropped seven out of their last eight. Liberatore's performances have been inconsistent, failing to pitch more than five innings in his last five starts and accumulating a 0-4 record in his last six outings. Additionally, the Cardinals' bullpen has not been performing at a high level. In contrast, Perez, despite facing challenges in his previous game against Cleveland, managed to secure a win and holds a 2-0 record in his last three starts. With the Cardinals' road record standing at 26-34 for the season and considering Liberatore's recent difficulties, the recommendation is to bet on the Marlins to win the series opener at home.

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