Marlins at Cardinals
Miami rookie Jose Fernandez had a strong effort against St. Louis in mid-June and looks for a repeat performance when the Marlins wrap up a three-game series with the host Cardinals on Sunday. Fernandez struck out 10 for the first time in his career and allowed two earned runs in seven innings in a 5-4 victory. Fernandez was named to the National League All-Star team on Saturday and will attempt to keep the Cardinals from sweeping the series.
St. Louis has two All-Star starters in catcher Yadier Molina and outfielder Carlos Beltran with first baseman Allen Craig and second baseman Matt Carpenter selected as reserves and pitcher Adam Wainwright named to the pitching staff. Molina is unlikely to play in the finale after leaving the ballpark during Saturday’s game to undergo an MRI on his sore right knee. St. Louis won Saturday’s game 5-4 in the bottom of the ninth for its first walk-off win of the season when Miami right fielder Giancarlo Stanton committed a throwing error that allowed Jon Jay to score from first on Shane Robinson’s pinch-hit single.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (5-4, 2.72 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Lance Lynn (10-3, 3.75)
The 20-year-old Fernandez is coming off a superb effort against the San Diego Padres when he struck out 10 and allowed only two hits over eight scoreless innings. He has given up four or fewer hits in five of his last six outings and is limiting opponents to a .193 average for the season. Fernandez has 94 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings.
Lynn has lost back-to-back starts against Houston and the Los Angeles Angels, giving up nine earned runs and 14 hits in 13 2/3 innings. He was fortunate to beat the Marlins on June 15 when he allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings during a 13-7 victory. Lynn has been superb at home this season with a 6-0 mark and 2.42 ERA in eight starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Carpenter is batting .359 at home this season.
2. Marlins 1B Logan Morrison has homered in each of the first two games of the series and has three in his last four contests.
3. Cardinals OF Matt Holliday was hitless in three at-bats on Saturday and has gone 11 games without a homer.