Miami MarlinsOpen full analysisVSSt. Louis CardinalsOpen full analysis

The St. Louis Cardinals edged the Miami Marlins 2–1 on June 28 at Busch Stadium in a low-scoring affair that fell well short of the 9.5-run Vegas total. St. Louis manufactured just enough offense with six hits and one home run while striking out nine Miami batters, though the Cardinals' pitching staff allowed only four hits and one earned run despite posting a 4.26 ERA. Miami's offense sputtered throughout, managing just four hits and zero home runs while striking out nine times; the Marlins' lone run came on a single RBI despite drawing three walks. The Cardinals' pitching dominated the strikeout battle, fanning nine versus Miami's two, and St. Louis committed no errors in the field. Both teams struggled at the plate with identical .246 batting averages and nearly identical OPS figures (.717 for St. Louis, .711 for Miami), underscoring a pitching-heavy contest that stayed under the betting line. The Cardinals' ability to win tight games while generating minimal offense suggests their pitching depth may carry them through the middle innings of the season.