Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. ET start at Busch Stadium. While the Mets start deGrom (2-2, 0.51) on an extra day of rest, the Cardinals have recalled rookie right-hander Johan Oviedo (0-0, 2.79) from the alternate camp.
Mets Bats Heating Up
The Mets have finally started scoring runs with 5, 8, and 5 in the last three games. They led the Cardinals 5-2 on Monday after Kevin Pillar went deep. Pete Alonso was 3-for-4 Monday and had a five-game hit streak with four doubles and four RBI in that stretch.
Now they need to score with deGrom on the mound. In the five starts this season by their ace, the Mets have scored a total of 13 runs while being shutout twice.
On Monday, deGrom was named National League Pitcher of the Month for May. He tied Nolan Ryan’s record for most strikeouts in the first five starts of the season at 59. Last time out, he lost 1-0 to Boston while striking out nine over six innings.
Of the Cardinals’ big bats, only Paul DeJong (4-for-11, 2 HR) has had success against deGrom. Paul Goldschmidt is 0-for-6, Nolan Arenado is 1-for-14, and Matt Carpenter is 3-for-14 with a homer.
Cardinals Crushing It
The home run has been kind to the St. Louis Cardinals this season, specifically the 3-run home run. When Arenado hit a game-tying 3-run blast on Monday, it marked the fifth straight game in which St. Louis has had a 3-run homer. The San Francisco Giants were the last team with such a streak back in 2000, and the Cardinals can set the record on Tuesday.
The Cardinals are fourth in the NL with 38 homers overall and fourth in runs scored at 138. DeJong leads the team with six homers despite batting just .186. Arenado has a team-leading 21 RBI to go with five homers. He, Tyler O’Neill, and an injured Yadier Molina also have five homers.
Oviedo, 23, made his MLB debut last season. He has pitched twice this year while bouncing back and forth to the alternate camp in Springfield, Missouri. The Cuban-born right-hander is ranked by most publications as a top-10 prospect in the Cardinals organization.
Oviedo took a no-decision against Philadelphia on Wednesday, allowing three runs on three hits over five innings. He struck out seven, walked two, and allowed a home run. He has never faced any of the Mets batters.
Betting Analysis
The Mets are -210, and their run line is -1.5 at -107. The Cardinals are +180 with a +1.5 run line at -110, and the total is 6.5.
New York has struggled to score with deGrom on the mound, but the offense has turned the corner the last four games. The Cardinals have a win-streak on the line with a talented young prospect on the hill, but they have to face the best pitcher in the game. Look for deGrom to do what he does and get the Mets even in the series.
FREE PICK: Mets -1.5
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