MLB Picks: St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets

The St. Louis Cardinals (11-9) and New York Mets (10-9) will continue a National League series Tuesday night at Citi Field, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET

St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets

The St. Louis Cardinals are struggling at the plate

St. Louis has dropped its last two games, including a 2-0 shutout loss to New York as -120 road favorites Monday, while going UNDER the betting total for a second consecutive contest. The Cardinals pitchers have struck out at least seven batters in a game 15 times, which is second in the NL to the Washington Nationals in that statistical category. The franchise has gone 4-4 over its last eight affairs despite its starting rotation compiling a 0.90 ERA in that span.

Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright (3-1, 1.80 ERA) has earned back-to-back wins, including a 8-0 road victory over the Nationals last time out, as he surrendered just two hits over nine shutout innings. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 0.78 ERA in three road efforts, with opposing hitters batting .132 against him. In eight games (six starts) versus the Mets, Wainwright has compiled a 2-4 record and 6.02 ERA.

New York has won two games in a row, while the UNDER has cashed in four of its last five affairs. Mets third baseman David Wright extended his hitting streak to 12 games Monday, which happens to be his franchise-record 18th double-digit hitting streak of his career. Second baseman David Murphy is a very important player to handicap, as he’s 6-for-11 with two doubles in his career versus Wainwright. New York is 8-26 as home underdogs of +125 to +150 the last two-plus seasons.

Mets starting pitcher Dillon Gee (1-0, 3.71 ERA) has watched the club alternate wins and losses over his first four efforts, as he picked up a 5-2 road victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks last time out. The right-hander has compiled a 4.50 ERA in two home outings without earning a decision, with opposing hitters batting .196 against him. In four lifetime appearances versus the Cardinals, Gee has gone 2-1 with a 3.65 ERA.