Cardinals at Marlins
The St. Louis Cardinals' road struggles have lasted for over a month, making this week a good time for them to return to a city they have enjoyed visiting over the previous four-plus seasons. The Cardinals continue their three-game series Tuesday in search of their 13th road victory over the Miami Marlins in 16 attempts.
St. Louis began its 10-game trek in dubious fashion, scoring a total of six runs while being the victim of a three-game sweep by the Chicago Cubs to fall to 3-13 in its last 16 road contests. The Cardinals didn't exactly light it up offensively on Monday, recording only four hits, but they benefited from a critical throwing error in the sixth inning that led to three unearned runs en route to a 4-1 victory. Following a four-game winning streak during which they scored 42 runs, the Marlins have totaled nine during a five-game skid - six of which came in a 12-inning loss to Atlanta on Sunday, when they squandered a four-run lead in the ninth frame. Harold Ramirez went 3-for-4 for Miami in the series opener against St. Louis and has reached base safely in 21 of 25 games since making his major-league debut on May 11.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Dakota Hudson (4-3, 3.70 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (0-0, 9.00)
Hudson recorded his fifth consecutive quality start and gave up three runs or fewer a ninth straight time in a no-decision against Cincinnati on Thursday, permitting one run on five hits and four walks over 6 1/3 innings. The Mississippi State product has issued 31 walks in 65 2/3 frames, but he has been able to overcome that in part by ranking second in the National League with 104 ground-ball outs. Hudson will try to extend his unbeaten streak to six games when he faces Miami for the first time in his career.
Hernandez is expected to make his first start of the season and the seventh of his brief career in place of an injured Caleb Smith. The 24-year-old Hernandez gave up two runs over as many innings in a relief appearance against San Francisco on May 28 after going 0-5 with a 5.04 ERA in six starts as a rookie last year. Hernandez has been sharp through nine turns at Triple-A New Orleans this season, however, going 3-1 with a 1.13 ERA while posting a 69:14 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
WALK-OFFS
1. Monday marked the first of seven times St. Louis and Miami will do battle over an 11-day period.
2. Cardinals OF Marcell Ozuna finished 2-for-4 in the series opener, improving his batting average against the Marlins to .444 since they traded him away prior the start of last season.
3. Miami C Jorge Alfaro, who his hitting .226 on the road, singled twice in three at-bats on Monday to raise his home batting average to .329.