The inconsistent Miami Marlins appear to be in another one of their hot streaks, and things seemingly should only improve with All-Star Giancarlo Stanton expected to start for the first time in five days.
Still, they have to figure out a way to beat St. Louis' Kyle Lohse for the first time this season.
Lohse looks to earn his ninth victory - and third against the Marlins - on Saturday and prevent Miami from getting back to .500 for the first time in three weeks.
With a 3-2 victory in Friday's opener in St. Louis, the Marlins (41-42) won for the seventh time in nine games following a 3-17 stretch.
Logan Morrison homered Friday, and has been instrumental to Miami's turnaround. He has three home runs in the last four games, and is batting .444 with 11 RBIs during a nine-game hitting streak.
Morrison hit cleanup Friday, and there could be some shuffling of the batting order Saturday with Stanton and Carlos Lee expected to be in the starting lineup for the first time for the Marlins, who haven't been at .500 since they were 33-33 on June 17.
Stanton, who was out of the starting lineup Friday because of right knee injury for a fourth straight game, struck out as a pinch hitter to end the ninth inning. The slugger who was batting .429 with three homers, two doubles and five RBIs in his previous six games, said he'll play Saturday against the Cardinals (44-40) and will be a full participant for next week's All-Star festivities, including the home run derby.
"I just want him to be ready for us, not for the National League," Ozzie Guillen said.
Before focusing on the Midsummer Classic, Stanton and his teammates will try to frustrate Lohse (8-2, 2.80 ERA), who has amassed a quarter of his wins this year against Miami. He spoiled the opener of the Marlins' new ballpark on April 4, surrendering a run and two hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-1 victory. He gave Marlins fans little to cheer about again on June 26, allowing two runs and four hits in 7 1-3 innings of a 5-2 victory.
Although Lohse, who has a 1.91 ERA over his last six starts, has had little trouble against Miami this year, Stanton is 2 for 6 with a homer and double in their matchups.
Lohse will also have to be careful pitching to the newest Marlin, Lee, and his counterpart, Carlos Zambrano (4-6, 4.14).
Lee is batting .315 with five homers and seven doubles in 73 career at-bats against Lohse, while Zambrano is 2 for 6 with a pair of homers.
Zambrano opposed Lohse two weeks ago, and gave up five runs, eight hits and five walks in 6 2-3 innings to take the loss. He is 0-3 with an 8.59 ERA over his last five starts with the Marlins losing each, but might have better luck at Busch Stadium, where he is 6-0 with a 1.73 ERA in eight career starts.
Zambrano has also done an excellent job of shutting down two of St. Louis' most productive hitters.
Carlos Beltran is a career .167-hitter against Zambrano, while Matt Holliday is batting .154 in 13 at-bats against him since 2009.
Holliday, hitting .491 with seven doubles and 13 RBIs in his last 14 games, was named as a replacement to the All-Star team on Friday for teammate Yadier Molina, who has been placed on bereavement leave after a death in the family.
