The New York Mets (12-5) and St. Louis Cardinals (9-5) clash in a 7:45 p.m. ET Monday game to kick off a 3-game series at Busch Stadium. Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Mets vs. Cardinals odds with MLB picks and predictions.
Season series: First meeting. Cardinals won 5 of 7 from the Mets in 2021.
New manager Buck Showalter has guided the Mets to an NL-leading 12 wins so far. New York won 2 of 3 from the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix last weekend. The Mets are 6-2 in their last 8.
The Cardinals are returning home after a protracted 6-4 road trip. St. Louis pitchers registered a 2.41 ERA over those 10 games.
Mets at Cardinals: Projected starters
RHP Max Scherzer vs. RHP Miles Mikolas
Scherzer (3-0, 2.50 ERA) is making start No. 4 this season. He has a 0.89 WHIP, 3.5 BB/9, and 11.5 K/9 in 18 IP.
- Has allowed just 2 R over 12 IP (6 BB, 17 K) in his last 2 starts.
- Faced the Redbirds twice in 2021: 1 unearned run allowed in 14 IP (1 BB, 22 K).
- Current St. Louis batters own an aggregate .461 OPS against him.
Mikolas (1-0, 1.76 ERA) makes his fourth start. He has a 1.04 WHIP, 1.8 BB/9, and 7.6 K/9 in 15 1/3 IP.
- Has allowed just 1 ER in his last 2 starts (13 2/3 IP).
- Notched a 3.56 ERA at home last season when he posted a 4.23 ERA overall.
Mets at Cardinals odds and lines
- Money line: Mets -160 (bet $160 to win $100) | Cardinals +130 (bet $100 to win $130)
- Against the spread (ATS): Mets -1.5 (+120) | Cardinals +1.5 (-145)
- Over/Under (O/U): 6.5 (O: -122 | U: -102)
Mets at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Mets 5, Cardinals 3
Money line
PASS. Would take New York at -145 or better.
Run line/Against the spread
Mikolas’ good numbers at home have come alongside some favorable ball-in-play rates. A righty-righty match-up favors New York, whose lefty and switch-hitting bats make the visiting nine worth a play for a multi-run win. The Mets’ on-base abilities (.358 OBP leading off innings) and solid clutch hitting make for diverse ways to tack on insurance runs against different types of pitchers.
BACK THE METS -1.5 (+120).
Over/Under
The Over is a slight lean. But consider a PASS unless you can get a 6.5-run price of -115 or better.