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St. Louis Cardinals vs Miami Marlins Preview

St. Louis Cardinals bring a five-game winning streak to Miami Friday night as Michael McGreevy faces Max Meyer at loanDepot park. Betting preview

St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins MLB game preview for April 20, 2026
STL
St. Louis Cardinals
Michael McGreevy RHP
@
6:40 PM ET
loanDepot park
MIA
Miami Marlins
Max Meyer RHP
Last updated Monday, April 20, 2026
Final This game has finished. Read the recap for final score, model grades, and box score.

Key Facts

Matchup
St. Louis Cardinals at Miami Marlins
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
First Pitch
6:40 PM ET
Venue
loanDepot park
Probable Starters
Michael McGreevy (RHP) vs Max Meyer (RHP)
Lineups
Projected
Odds Snapshot
Apr 20, 6:41 PM ET
Last Updated
Apr 20, 11:10 AM ET

Betting Board

Snapshot Apr 20, 6:41 PM ET
Moneyline
STL +120
MIA -130
Total
Over 8.5 -122
Under 8.5 +100
Run Line
STL +1.5 -182
MIA -1.5 +150

Model Angles

NRFI Model
YRFI · 40%
-13.5% edge
Projected Total
2.6
model combined runs
Park Factor
0.94
Pitcher friendly · HR 0.90
First Pitch Weather
Roof
Climate controlled
The St. Louis Cardinals arrive in Miami riding a five-game winning streak and carrying a 13-8 record into Friday night's series opener at loanDepot park. They'll send right-hander Michael McGreevy to the mound, who brings a 2.49 ERA and 0.83 WHIP into the matchup. The Miami Marlins counter with right-hander Max Meyer, who owns a 4.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP this season. Miami sits at 10-12 after winning their last contest. McGreevy has limited baserunners effectively but posts a modest 4.98 strikeouts per nine innings, while Meyer generates far more whiffs at 9.15 per nine. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 PM ET under clear conditions with 72-degree temperatures and calm winds at the pitcher-friendly loanDepot park, which carries a 0.94 run park factor.
  • St. Louis enters on a five-game winning streak at 13-8
  • McGreevy owns a 2.49 ERA and 0.83 WHIP this season
  • Meyer strikes out 9.15 batters per nine innings

Pitching Matchup

STL Away
Michael McGreevy
RHP · 1-1 · 4 GS
ERA
2.49
WHIP
0.83
K/9
4.98
IP
21.2
Career: 3.72 ERA · 1.11 WHIP · 5.64 K/9
NRFI: 57.9%
1st Inn ERA: 4.74
MIA Home
Max Meyer
RHP · 1-0 · 4 GS
ERA
4.12
WHIP
1.32
K/9
9.15
IP
19.2
Career: 5.13 ERA · 1.41 WHIP · 8.55 K/9
NRFI: 61.9%
1st Inn ERA: 4.74

On the season, Michael McGreevy holds the ERA edge in this matchup. Michael McGreevy carries a 2.49 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, while Max Meyer sits at 4.12 ERA and 1.32 WHIP.
Strikeout rates: Michael McGreevy at 4.98 K/9, Max Meyer at 9.15 K/9.
K projections: Michael McGreevy at 4.2 (line 3.5)
Max Meyer projected at 5.0 (line 5.5).
First-inning scoring: Michael McGreevy holds a 57.9% career NRFI rate, Max Meyer at 61.9%. Combined average: 59.9%.
Both starters throw from the R side, limiting platoon splits for either lineup.

Strikeout Projections

Michael McGreevy vs MIA
Proj: 4.2Line: 3.5
+0.7
Confidence:
Max Meyer vs STL
Proj: 5.0Line: 5.5
-0.5
Confidence:
View all K projections on SlateIQ

Our strikeout model weighs pitcher K rate, opponent lineup whiff tendency, park factors, and umpire zone size to project total strikeouts per starter.

Michael McGreevy (St. Louis Cardinals) is projected for 4.2 strikeouts against a posted line of 3.5. The projection is close to the line with no actionable edge.
He faces a moderate-K lineup that strikes out at 22.0% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

  • Max Meyer (Miami Marlins) is projected for 5.0 strikeouts against a posted line of 5.5. The projection is close to the line with no actionable edge.
  • He faces a moderate-K lineup that strikes out at 22.0% with a 28.0% whiff rate.

The St. Louis Cardinals lineup is more vulnerable to strikeouts in this matchup. Miami Marlins batters K at 22.0%, St. Louis Cardinals batters at 22.0%.

NRFI & First 5 Analysis

NRFI Model
40.0%
probability of YRFI
+-13.5%
market edge
Monitor
Market implied: 53.5%Model: 40.0%
First 5 Innings
1.4est. F5 runs
STL
2.49 ERA
5.3 inn/start
MIA
4.12 ERA
4.8 inn/start
F5 lean: Moderate STL
STL K Projection
Michael McGreevy
4.2proj
Line: 3.5
+0.7 NEUTRAL
Confidence
MIA K Projection
Max Meyer
5.0proj
Line: 5.5
-0.5 NEUTRAL
Confidence
Explore all model projections

Our NRFI model analyzes both starting pitchers' first-inning profiles, the top-of-order hitters in each lineup, the umpire's historical zone, and environmental factors to produce a probability estimate. For this game, the model assigns a 40.0% probability of no runs in the first inning, compared to the market's implied probability of 53.5%.

  • That creates a slim -13.5% edge on YRFI.
  • The best available line is NRFI -115 / YRFI -105 at FanDuel.
  • Home plate umpire Scott Barry runs a tight zone. See the umpire section below for full career data.
  • Our NRFI model sits at 16-22 (42.1%) on official picks this season.

Prop Edges

3 model signals detected
Hits (1+) Lean Hit 0.5
67.8%
Home Run Elite 0.5
18.5%
Iván Herrera
Home Run Strong 0.5
12.8%
See all today's picks and edges

Lineup & Matchup Breakdown

St. Louis Cardinals Projected
K%: 22.0
1Iván HerreraRC
4Nolan GormanL2B
Whiff rate: 28.0%Team page
Miami Marlins Projected
Projected batting order unavailable. This will update when probable or confirmed lineup data is available.
Batter vs Pitcher matchup tool

Lineups are projected as of this writing.

St. Louis Cardinals K vulnerability: 22.0% strikeout rate, 28.0% whiff rate.

Ballpark, Weather & Umpire

loanDepot park
Run Factor0.94
HR Factor0.90
Full park profile
Home Plate Umpire
Scott Barry
Slightly tight NRFI: 59.0% 61 games
Full umpire profile
  • loanDepot park carries a 0.94 run factor (pitcher-friendly).
  • Home run factor: 0.90 — the park suppresses HR power.
  • Park notes: Extreme pitcher-friendly; Retractable roof; Suppresses HRs significantly.
  • Roof: Retractable.

Climate controlled. Roof expected closed. Standard 72F conditions, no wind factor.

  • Home plate umpire: Scott Barry.
  • Career NRFI rate: 59.0% across 61 games tracked.
  • Zone tendency: Slightly tight.
  • K factor: 0.917 (below average strikeouts in his games).

Run Projections & Total

  • Our projection model puts the total at 2.6 combined runs, with St. Louis Cardinals projected for 2.6 and Miami Marlins for 0.0.
  • That's 5.9 runs below the posted total of 8.5, suggesting a lean toward the Under.
  • The run projection favors St. Louis Cardinals by 2.6 runs.
The Bottom Line
The Cardinals bring momentum and superior pitching metrics into this opener, with McGreevy's run prevention skills contrasting Meyer's strikeout upside. The pitcher-friendly venue and calm weather conditions favor both starters in what projects as a low-scoring affair.
This preview is generated from thecapper.io projection models and publicly available data. All projections are model estimates, not guarantees. Gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.