The St. Louis Cardinals, currently navigating a challenging season, are looking to secure a win against the Miami Marlins tonight at 6:45 p.m. at Busch Stadium. This matchup is significant as it will be the final game before the upcoming trade deadline, with both teams having split the initial games of their series.
Miles Mikolas, the Cardinals’ right-handed pitcher, is set to take the mound. Mikolas, sporting a record of 6-7 with a 4.94 ERA, is coming off a noteworthy start where he managed to keep the San Diego Padres scoreless over five innings, despite allowing seven hits. This performance, while not without its challenges, was a welcome result for Mikolas, who has faced struggles throughout the season. In his last ten outings, he has recorded a disappointing 6.39 ERA, and he ranks second in baseball for the number of home runs allowed per nine innings.
Opposing Mikolas will be Cal Quantrill, a right-hander for the Marlins who is having a rocky season with a record of 3-8 and a 5.05 ERA. The Cardinals are on the hunt for a win to stay competitive, currently sitting 4.5 games behind San Diego for the final wild-card position in the National League.
In a move to reinforce their roster, the Cardinals have placed left-handed reliever John King on the 15-day injured list due to a left oblique strain. In his place, right-hander Gordon Graceffo has been recalled from Triple-A Memphis to help bolster the pitching staff.
Fans can catch tonight’s game on the FanDuel Sports Network and on KMOX radio, with lineups announced prior to the game featuring several key players, including Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras for the Cardinals.
Additionally, injury updates show that outfielders Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Gorman are currently on rehab assignments to return to full health, which could provide the Cardinals with the necessary boost as they look to improve their playoff chances.
Amidst the ups and downs, there remains hope for the Cardinals as they strive to turn their season around, capitalizing on the opportunity to shine in front of their home fans.