Monday, May 3, 2021 • 7:45 p.m. ET
Busch Stadium • St. Louis, MO
LHP Joey Lucchesi (0-1, 6.75) vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (0-3, 4.08)
SNY • WCBS 880 AM • WQBU 92.7

Somehow the Mets are going to play baseball again after Sunday’s wild game.

The Mets took the series from the Phillies over the weekend, and what a wild ending the finale was. The Mets finally got over their hitting with runners in scoring position bug and pushed six runs across the plate in the eighth inning to make the score 8-4.

Then in the ninth inning, Edwin Diaz came in with a tight back and tried to pitch through it but allowed a double that was almost a homer, and the Mets were able to hang on to the game.

So now the Mets have to come back down energy-wise to face the Cardinals, who are off to a good start and do so with some interesting limitations tonight.

Brandon Nimmo is nursing an injury, while J.D. Davis and Luis Guillorme are on the IL. Diaz has pitched in back-to-back days and has a tight, back so he is not available. Trevor May has also pitched on consecutive days and shouldn’t be available. However, Miguel Castro threw over 20 pitches and should be available.

Mets Lineup

  1. Jeff McNeil – 2B
  2. Francisco Lindor – SS
  3. Michael Conforto – RF
  4. Pete Alonso – 1B
  5. Dominic Smith – LF
  6. Kevin Pillar – CF
  7. Jonathan Villar – 3B
  8. Tomas Nido – C
  9. Joey Lucchesi – P

Cardinals Lineup

  1. Tommy Edman – 2B
  2. Dylan Carlson – RF
  3. Paul Goldschmidt – 1B
  4. Nolan Arenado – 3B
  5. Paul DeJong – SS
  6. Tyler O’Neill – LF
  7. Harrison Bader – CF
  8. Andrew Knizner – C
  9. Adam Wainwright – RHP

The Mets announced late in the afternoon that Lucchesi was being recalled from the alternate site in order to start Monday’s game. It’s unclear how deep into the game he’ll go, and we will almost certainly see one of Sean Reid-Foley or Robert Gsellman to follow, if not both of them.

Before being sent down, Lucchesi got into three games this year and pitched eight innings, allowing six runs off seven hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters. Due to the Mets’ schedule, this will be his fourth start and it will be his fourth start in a different city, none of them being in New York.

The Mets will face a long-time foe, Adam Wainwright, in their opener in St. Louis. Wainwright has started five games and pitched 28.2 innings with a 4.08 ERA, 3.98 FIP, 1.26 WHIP and a 94 ERA+. There are two starts that are weighing down on his stats.

In his first start of the year, he allowed six runs over 2.2 innings, and in his third start, he allowed four runs (three earned) over five innings. He’s on a bit of a roll now, allowing three runs in 16 innings of work while striking out 18 over his last two starts.

The Mets have the following numbers against Wainwright:

  • J.D. Davis 1-2, 2B
  • Michael Conforto 5-8, 2B, HR, 3 BB, K
  • Francisco Lindor 1-4
  • Jose Peraza 1-4, 2 K
  • Jonathan Villar 3-18, 2 BB, 6 K
  • Pete Alonso 0-2, BB
  • Kevin Pillar 1-7
  • Jeff McNeil 0-3, K
  • Albert Almora Jr. 0-10, K

Let’s Go Mets! Check 213 Miles From Shea!