Tyler Phillips (1-2, 3.09 ERA) gets the ball for Miami against Kyle Leahy (5-4, 4.24 ERA) in today's 1:15 PM CT series finale at Busch Stadium. Phillips was solid in his last outing — 6 innings, 2 earned runs, 89 pitches against Texas — and his ERA tells you he's been better than that 1-2 record suggests. Leahy is coming off a career-high 6.1 scoreless frames against Arizona, which on paper looks like a guy who's turned a corner.
The problem for St. Louis is the broader context. Dustin May skipped his Saturday turn in the rotation with a back issue, which means the Cardinals are burning depth in a rotation that's already held together with tape. The lineup isn't helping: key contributors up and down the order have gone quiet at the same time, and the Cardinals have been shut out or held to 1 run in 3 of their last 5 games. Leahy has to be sharp because there's no margin for error.
The Marlins aren't just winning — they're doing it with depth. Max Meyer threw 7 scoreless innings Friday and is 9-0 on the year, tying a franchise record for best start to a season in Marlins history. But this weekend's damage was a full team effort: Miami ran up the Cardinals' bullpen Friday and chased them again Saturday without their ace on the mound. This is a 17-5-in-June roster that's found its rhythm, and they've gone 8-2 in their last 10.
- Day-To-DayThomas White SP — White was diagnosed with a left shoulder capsular sprain Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILLiam Hicks C — Hicks is awaiting MRI results on his injured lower back, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
- 15-Day-ILJanson Junk SP — Junk (shin) threw a pitch-design session Friday and could be cleared to face hitters in live batting practice during the upcoming week, MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILJosh Ekness RP — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi RP — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling SP — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.
- 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez RP — The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
- 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur SP — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
- Day-To-DayDustin May SP — The Cardinals will skip May's (back) turn in the rotation Saturday against Miami, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse SP — Robberse (elbow) has been sent to the Cardinals' Florida Complex League affiliate to begin a rehab assignment.
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton RP — Naughton will undergo surgery next month to repair the damaged UCL in his left elbow, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos RP — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson SP — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson RP — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.
- 15-Day-ILRyan Fernandez RP — Fernandez (back) is on track to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
- 60-Day-ILRamon Urias 3B — Urias (elbow) returned to St. Louis to undergo an examination on his left elbow, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
The Cardinals are still a .500-plus ballclub at 42-38, and their rotation ace situation isn't a catastrophe. But when your offense goes this cold — simultaneously — against a streaking team, you can't bet on one good Leahy outing to reverse the momentum. Miami's lineup knows how to generate late-game runs, and Phillips' 3.09 ERA means St. Louis has to earn everything they get. The Cardinals need their bats to wake up today. They haven't given much reason to think they will.