Cardinals vs Marlins Prediction: St. Louis Big Favorites
Cardinals Visit Miami For Three-Game Series

The St. Louis Cardinals (35-35) visit the slumping Miami Marlins (23-48) for three games beginning Monday. The Cardinals have moved into second place in the NL Central. The Marlins have dropped five straight and have the worst record in the National League. St. Louis is playing better than its stats.
With a -38 run differential the Cardinals are four games above their x-W/L record of 31-39. Miami’s -116 run differential has the team with the record you would expect of 23-48. The Cardinals vs Marlins prediction shows Sonny Gray and Braxton Garrett as the starters in Monday’s opening game. St. Louis is -155 and the total is 7.5-over (-115). The Cardinals are +120 on the run line at -1.5 runs.
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St. Louis is No. 19 in team batting average and tied for No. 23 in home runs. The Cardinals are scoring 3.9 runs per game and 3.7 runs when they take to the road. St. Louis doesn’t show any difference in scoring against right- or left-handed starters.
The pitching staff hasn’t been bad, with St. Louis No. 15 in team ERA. The bullpen has capitalized on its opportunities and is 26 for 33 in save opportunities. The relief pitchers are throwing a little better than the starters.
Miami’s offense has been plain bad. The Marlins are No. 25 in team batting average and dead last in home runs. Miami is near the bottom of the MLB runs per game category, scoring 3.5 runs. Miami does score a little more at home, but that’s not saying much.
Miami’s pitching has been terrible. The Marlins are No. 27 in team ERA and the bullpen has been even worse. The Miami relievers are just 10 for 23 in save opportunities and even worse at home. The Marlins have three saves and nine blown saves at home.
St. Louis Cardinals vs Miami Marlins 
Day/Time:
Location: LoanDepot Park
Streaming: MLB
Monday’s Game
Gray is having another good year, although his home numbers are much better. He’s 8-4 with a 3.01 ERA overall, but 3-2 with a 5.14 ERA on the road this season. Gray has received a decision in every game he’s started. He’s failed to go at least five innings just once when he went 4 2/3 innings.
Garrett is 2-2 on the year, but has an unsightly 6.10 ERA. He’s had just two decent starts out of six, but Miami is 4-2 when he starts. The Marlins have lost his last two outings and his home ERA is a dreadful 11.68.
The MLB lines are a bit low on this one, but we will have to follow the trends and play the over 7.5 in this game.
Tuesday’s Game
The Cardinals vs Marlins preview is showing Lance Lynn starting for St. Louis against Roddery Munoz. Lynn is 2-3 on the season with a 3.75 ERA and the Cardinals are 8-6 when he starts. He isn’t pitching his best right now and has failed to make it five innings in any of his last three starts. Lynn’s away numbers are better, but the Cardinals win a higher percentage of games when he starts at home.
Munoz has made five starts for the Marlins and is 1-2 with a 4.56 ERA. He’s either been very good or very bad in all five starts. He’s allowed two runs or less in three starts and 10 runs in 8 2/3 innings in the other starts. Miami is 1-4 when he starts. Munoz is coming off his best start, allowing one hit over six innings against the Mets. The inconsistency makes him a little hard to back, although he should get a decent price here.
If you like the Cardinals in your picks and parlays, you’re probably better off taking St. Louis on the run line. When Munoz has been bad, he’s been bad. This is the toughest of the three games to play.
Wednesday’s Game
The Cardinals vs Marlins preview has Kyle Gibson as the scheduled starter for St. Louis. The Marlins haven’t officially named a starter yet, although it could very well be Max Meyer returning to the big team. Miami drew the ire of Major League Baseball fans when it sent him to the minors in April. Gibson is having a typical season. He’s 5-2 with a 3.44 ERA, although the Cardinals are 7-7 when he starts. He goes out to the mound every five days and gives the Cardinals a chance to win. Gibson has pitched better on the road.
If the Marlins start Meyer, he isn’t likely to go more than five innings. Miami is still taking it easy with him in his year back after Tommy John surgery. He didn’t throw more than six innings in his three April starts. He was 2-1 with a 2.12 ERA when he was sent down. Four innings of the Miami bullpen isn’t a very appealing thought if you like the Marlins.
If Meyer does get the start for the Marlins, the best play here could very well be the under for the first five innings. That could eliminate the amount of time Miami’s bullpen can factor in the game.
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