Cardinals close homestand Sunday vs. Marlins, with Kyle Leahy and Tyler Phillips slated to start

The St. Louis Cardinals will wrap up their homestand Sunday with a matchup against the Miami Marlins at Busch Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Central, and the game TV broadcast will be handled through, according to the Cardinals’ game discussion listing.

St. Louis is expected to start Kyle Leahy in the series finale. For the Cardinals, the choice of a home-stretch starter is often about setting the tone for the next phase of the schedule, especially as the rotation manages workload over a long season. Leahy’s role Sunday is built around that standard need for innings early and effective run prevention at a point when teams are trying to finish a stretch on their own field on solid footing.

Miami will send RHP Tyler Phillips to the mound. The game discussion notes Phillips enters with a 1-2 record and a 3.09 ERA, along with 49 strikeouts. Those marks frame Phillips as a pitcher who can miss bats while still needing to solve the Cardinals’ lineup in real time, particularly against a club that will be looking to carry momentum from their final home game into the next set of road or home matchups.

The matchup also sets up a practical stylistic comparison. Phillips’ strikeout total suggests he has the capacity to create swings and misses, which can be crucial in a one-game sprint where bullpens may need to be more carefully managed. For St. Louis, the challenge will be to time his approach early, especially if he is locating effectively and hitters are forced to play from behind in counts.

For Miami’s offense, the focus will be on turning Sunday’s starter matchup into a sustained run. When a team faces a starter named for the contest rather than an opener plan, the margin for error typically shrinks: a single long inning can swing leverage toward the pitcher, while quick at-bats can help both the lineup and the bullpen stay prepared. The Marlins will be looking for timely contact, not just hard-hit outcomes, as the game progresses past the first time through the order.

As the homestand winds down, St. Louis has a chance to make the ending count. The final home game carries added weight for routine, fan experience, and the clubhouse rhythm that comes with playing on familiar ground. For Miami, the goal is more straightforward but equally demanding: give Phillips a platform to work, then rely on the rest of the staff to handle late-inning leverage if the game stays close.