Cardinals @ Marlins

Who will WIN this matchup?

St. Louis Cardinals (31-32)

@ Miami Marlins (23-40)

Starting Pitchers:

Wacha (STL): 3-2; 6.30 ERA

Alcantara (MIA) 3-5; 3.80 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

St. Louis Cardinals: 5-5

Miami Marlins: 4-6

Current odds:

St. Louis Cardinals: (-135)

Miami Marlins: (+125)

• The road has not been kind to the St. Louis Cardinals of late, but they hope to change their fortunes when they begin a three-game series against the host Miami Marlins on Monday. St. Louis suffered its 13th loss in 16 road contests and third straight to begin its 10-game trek when it dropped a 5-1 decision to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. Kolten Wong drove in the lone run for the Cardinals with a double and Matt Carpenter recorded a pair of singles as both players have hit safely in seven of their last eight games.

• Miami has lost four straight contests after beginning the month with a four-game winning streak, including the first three of its nine-game homestand. The Marlins squandered a four-run lead in the ninth inning on Sunday and went on to suffer a 7-6 setback against Atlanta in 12 frames that completed a series sweep. Austin Dean drove in three runs for Miami with a leadoff homer and a pair of RBI singles, matching the hit total from his previous seven games with an at-bat.

• Wacha returns to the starting rotation after making a pair of relief appearances, including a scoreless outing against Cincinnati on Tuesday in which he allowed two hits and recorded three strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings. The 27-year-old native of Iowa did not fare as well his first time out of the bullpen as he was tagged for six runs on five hits and three walks in one frame at Philadelphia on May 29. Wacha has yet to lose to Miami in his career, going 2-0 with a 4.60 ERA in three starts.

• Alcantara is coming off a victory at Milwaukee on Wednesday in which he allowed one run and five hits over seven innings. The 23-year-old Dominican issued just one walk in the triumph after handing out five free passes while giving up only two hits over six scoreless frames in a no-decision against San Francisco in his previous turn. Alcantara never has faced St. Louis, the club with which he began his major-league career in 2017 as a reliever.

• Cardinals RHP Adam Wainwright exited Sunday’s loss with tightness in his hamstring and is questionable to make his next scheduled start.

• Miami hopes for a better performance from its bullpen, which yielded six runs on six hits, eight walks and a balk on Sunday.

• St. Louis recalled Daniel Ponce de Leon from Triple-A Memphis prior to Sunday’s game and optioned fellow RHP Ryan Helsley to the Redbirds.