The New York Mets (11-11, tied for first place in the National League’s eastern division) will continue their road trip in St. Louis with four games against manager Mike Shildt’s Cardinals (16-12). The Mets are coming off a series win in Philadelphia, in which they took two of three from the Phillies, including a wild Sunday night game.
The Cardinals swept three from the Pirates in Pittsburgh in their most recent series. They find themselves in second place in the National League’s central division, one game behind the Brewers.
The weather in St. Louis calls for possible thundershowers Monday and Tuesday nights, as well as a chance for showers on Thursday.
Let’s take a look at the projected pitching matchups for the series.
Monday, May 3, Undecided, NYM vs RHP Adam Wainwright (0-3) STL, 7:45 pm
The Mets may go with a bullpen game, or another option is to recall LHP Joey Lucchesi to make the start.
Wainwright in 2021: GS: 5, ERA: 4.08, WHIP: 1.26, IP: 28.2, H: 30, BB: 6, SO: 32, ER: 13, HR: 5
Last 3 starts: April 14 vs. WSH (L, 5IP, 3ER), April 20 vs. WSH (ND, 7IP, 1ER), April 26 vs. PHI (L, 9IP, 2ER)
Wainwright is in his 16th season and has a career record of 167-101 with an ERA of 3.39 and a 1.23 WHIP. He is a two-time 20-game winner, having hit that benchmark in 2010 and 2015. The Georgia native will forever hold a place in Mets history for his strikeout of Carlos Beltran to end the 2006 NLCS.
The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.
Tuesday, May 4, RHP Jacob deGrom (2-2) NYM vs LHP Kwang Hyun Kim (1-0) STL, 7:45 pm
DeGrom in 2021: GS: 5, ERA: 0.51, WHIP: 0.57, IP: 35, H: 16, BB: 4, SO: 59, ER: 2, HR: 2
Last 3 starts: April 17 vs. COL (W, 6IP, 0ER), April 23 vs. WSH (W, 9IP, 0ER), April 28 vs. BOS (L, 6IP, 1ER)
Kim in 2021: GS: 3, ERA: 3.29, WHIP: 1.32: IP, 13.2, H: 17, BB: 1, SO: 16, ER: 5, HR: 1
Last 3 starts: April 17 vs. PHI (ND, 3IP, 3ER), April 23 vs CIN (W, 5.2IP, 1ER), April 29 vs. PHI (ND, 5IP, 1ER)
DeGrom has asked for an extra day for the second consecutive start. While that may not be significant, it may be something worth watching as the season moves along. The Mets’ ace has been dazzling so for in 2021, and he’ll look to keep rolling against the Cardinals. As has often been the case, deGrom was victimized by a lack of run support in his last start against the Red Sox. While he may not have been at his best in that game, he managed to strike out nine and walk just one.
Kim is in his second MLB season, having pitched for the Cardinals last year. In the abbreviated campaign, he went 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA in seven starts.
The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.
Mandatory Credit: Kam Nedd-USA TODAY Sports
Wednesday, May 5, RHP Marcus Stroman (3-2) NYM vs RHP John Gant (2-2) STL, 7:45 pm
Stroman in 2021: GS: 5, ERA: 1.86, WHIP: 0.93, IP: 29, H: 21, BB: 6, SO: 23, ER: 6, HR: 1
Last 3 starts: April 18 vs. COL (W, 8IP, 1ER), April 24 vs. WSH (L, 5IP, 4ER), April 30 vs. PHI (L, 5IP, 0ER)
Gant in 2021: GS: 5, ERA: 2.16, WHIP: 1.56: IP, 25, H: 21, BB: 18, SO: 20, ER: 6, HR: 1
Last 3 starts: April 18 vs. PHI (L, 5IP, 2ER), April 24 vs CIN (W, 6IP, 0ER), April 30 vs. PIT (W, 5IP, 1ER)
Stroman left his last start early with tightness in his hamstring. He has indicated that the hamstring is getting better and he anticipates on making this start. The Long Island native has been very good in four of his five starts and uncharacteristically struck out eight in just five innings during his last outing in Philadelphia.
Gant was originally in the Mets organization. He was traded by the Mets to the Braves in 2015 in a deal for Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe. His pitching numbers are interesting, in that he has a very good ERA of 2.16, but has a high WHIP, driven by a significant number of walks.
The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.
Thursday, May 6, RHP Taijuan Walker (1-1) NYM vs RHP Jack Flaherty (5-0) STL, 1:15 pm
Walker in 2021: GS: 3, ERA: 3.00, WHIP: 1.26, IP: 27, H: 19, BB: 15, SO: 27, ER: 9, HR: 1
Last 3 starts: April 20 vs. CHC (L, 3.2IP, 2ER), April 25 vs. WSH (W, 7IP, 0ER), May 1 vs. PHI (ND, 6IP, 4ER)
Flaherty in 2021: GS: 6, ERA: 3.41, WHIP: 1.02: IP, 34.1, H: 25, BB: 10, SO: 36, ER: 13, HR: 3
Last 3 starts: April 19 vs. WSH (W, 6IP, 2ER), April 25 vs CIN (W, 7IP, 1ER), May 1 vs. PIT (W, 6IP, 3ER)
In his last start against the Phillies, Walker was handed a four-run lead before he took the mound. He was unable to hold that lead and left with the game tied, but the Mets eventually won the game. In the start before that, Walker was outstanding against the Nationals. Overall, he’s been very effective this season, with his worst start coming on a frigid night in Chicago in which he was unable to locate his pitches and throw strikes.
Flaherty has been the ace of the Cardinals’ staff. The Burbank, California native has a career record of 28-22 with a 3.37 ERA. He is now in his fifth season.
The game can be seen locally on SNY and heard locally on WCBS radio 880 a.m.
Series Notes for Mets (stats through games of May 1):
Mets by the numbers, with MLB rankings:
BA .232 (17th)
OBP .317 (12th)
SLG .352 (29th)
OPS .669 (24th)
Team ERA 2.95 (2nd)
Starters’ ERA 2.70 (4th)
Relievers’ ERA 3.45 (8th)
Brandon Nimmo and J.D. Davis are both hurting, though on the active roster. Nimmo did appear late in Sunday night’s game as a defensive replacement.
Luis Guillorme is on the 10-day injured list.
Edwin Diaz left Sunday night’s game with back tightness.
Series Notes for Cardinals (stats through games of May 1)
Cardinals by the numbers, with MLB rankings:
BA .230 (18th)
OBP .302 (23rd)
SLG .397 (13th)
OPS .699 (15th)
Team ERA 4.01 (14th)
Starters’ ERA 4.01 (11th)
Relievers’ ERA 4.00 (16th)
Yadier Molina is on the 10-day injured list.
The Mets’ bats came alive in the final two games in Philadelphia. They continue to pitch well (though Edwin Diaz notably struggled on Sunday night). They will need to be good in all aspects of the game to take on the Cardinals, who are off to a good start and always provide tough competition for the guys from Flushing.
