The New York Mets (24-14, 11-8 home) battle the St. Louis Cardinals (20-16, 10-8 away) in game three of a four-game series in the Big Apple. Due to inclement weather, Monday’s series opener was postponed, so the two National League foes split a pair on Tuesday. The Mets own a 3-2 mark against the Cardinals in games played already this season.
Wednesday’s first pitch is slated for 7:10 p.m. EST at Citi Field in Queens, New York. The Mets are the betting favorite (-210), and the over-under total is seven runs.
What to Know – St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have won three of their last four games and continue to keep their record hovering over .500. St. Louis sits in second place in the NL Central, 2.5 games behind the leading Milwaukee Brewers.
The expected starter for the visitors is right-hander Jordan Hicks (1-3, 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). Hicks continues to transition from a relief role to the starting rotation, tossing 5.0 innings in his last start, his most innings of a work in an outing this season. The 25-year-old hard-thrower has appeared in seven games this year, pitching 21.2 innings, allowing ten earned runs on 13 hits, 12 walks, with 21 strikeouts.
Paul Goldschmidt needed a month to get the bat heated up, but the veteran first baseman has hit safely in ten straight games, raising his average in the process from .276 to .321. Nolan Arenado leads the Cardinals with eight home runs and 29 runs batted in and an average right at .300.
The Cardinals rank ninth in the majors with a .246 team batting average, scoring 4.5 runs per game. The pitching staff for St. Louis has a combined team earned run average of 3.45, eighth in the MLB.
What to Know – New York Mets
New York made a handful of moves in the offseason, and so far, those plays are paying off. The Mets own a six-game lead over Miami and Philadelphia in the NL East.
One of those offseason signees takes the mound for the Mets on Wednesday. Right-hander Max Scherzer (4-1, 2.66 ERA, 0.91 WHIP) tries to keep his spectacular start to the season going. Scherzer posted seven starts, tallying 44.0 innings of work with just 13 earned runs allowed and 55 strikeouts.
Designated hitter Pete Alonso continues to terrorize opposing pitchers with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Outfielder Starling Marte, another offseason acquisition, has been a spark plug atop the Mets’ lineup with three home runs and five stolen bases.
The Mets average 4.4 runs per game behind a .248 team batting average that sits fourth in the majors. New York’s pitching staff sports a 3.33 ERA, fifth-best amongst teams in the MLB.
The Pick is In
These two teams are very similar statistically, but the Mets own a big advantage on the mound. We are comfortable rolling with the home team and eight-time All-Star to get it done Wednesday against the visiting Cardinals.
Betting Pick: New York Mets -1.5
