St. Louis CardinalsOpen full analysisVSMiami MarlinsOpen full analysis

Miami defeated St. Louis 4–1 on April 22 at loanDepot park, with the Marlins' pitching staff limiting the Cardinals to just 4 hits while striking out 9. The Cardinals managed only a .229 batting average with 4 hits and 1 home run, fanning 9 times and scoring their lone run on that solo shot. Miami's offense was modest but efficient, collecting 12 hits with a .721 OPS and 4 RBIs despite no home runs, while the Marlins' pitching allowed just 1 earned run with a 3.89 ERA. St. Louis's pitching faltered in the matchup, serving up 12 hits and 4 earned runs with a 4.77 ERA while walking 3 batters. The Cardinals' offensive struggles—ranking below a .700 OPS and striking out at a 32 percent rate—proved decisive in a low-scoring affair that stayed well under Vegas expectations. Miami's ability to generate runs without power while stifling St. Louis's lineup suggests the Marlins' pitching depth could sustain early success in the division race.