Signup

One of the top series around the major leagues early this week is the New York Mets making their lone visit of the year to St. Louis. Tuesday’s matchup is featured on national TV with the Mets as short favorites on the MLB odds.

How to Bet Mets at Cardinals MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Tuesday, 7:45 PM ET
Where: Busch Stadium
Probable pitchers (away/home): Chris Bassitt/Jordan Hicks
TV: TBS
Stream/gameday audio: TBS app; https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: Mets -115, Cardinals +105 (total 7.5)

Why Bet on NY Mets?

The Mets remain without ace Jacob deGrom, who is just over three weeks into a four-week shutdown period after he was diagnosed with a stress reaction of his right scapula April 1, so he could be cleared to begin a throwing program within the next few days if an MRI reveals that he’s made good progress in his recovery. Even if the MRI yields good news, deGrom will likely need at least three weeks to get his arm conditioned for a starter’s workload, so he’s unlikely to make his 2022 debut until the second half of May.

New York’s Francisco Lindor is an early candidate for NL MVP. Lindor looked uncomfortable at the plate at times in 2021, but through his first 64 at-bats of 2022, he’s slashing .313/.408/.563 with four home runs and three steals. Lindor ranks fourth in the major leagues with a 1.2 fWAR this year.

In seven career games at Busch Stadium, Pete Alonso is 9-24 (.375) with seven runs, a double, two home runs, three RBI and six walks. James McCann is 8-19 (.421) with two runs, three doubles, three RBI and three walks in five career games at the ballpark. Robinson Canó is a .378 (14-37) career hitter with six runs, six doubles, a home run, two RBI and three walks in 10 career games vs. St. Louis. J.D. Davis is 9-23 (.391) with three runs, two doubles, a home run, four RBI and a walk in 10 games against St. Louis. Starling Marte has played 114 games against St. Louis and is a .292/.350/.424 hitter with 60 runs, 17 doubles, nine triples, eight home runs, 40 RBI and 24 walks.

The Mets are 10-1 when scoring first this season. That is the best mark in the majors. New York was 56-23 when scoring first last season.

It’s right-hander Chris Bassitt (2-1, 3.00) on the mound. Bassitt took his first loss after giving up five runs in six innings last Wednesday against the Giants. Bassitt was a little unlucky to give up eight hits tonight, with two of the softest of those hits coming in a three-run first. His average exit velocity against was a paltry 77.9 mph. He struck out six and walked one.

Bassitt will take the mound against the St. Louis Cardinals for the second time in his career. In his first start against them on June 25, 2019, he gave up three runs on four hits in 3.1 innings of work while striking out two batters and walked four.

Why Bet on St. Louis?

On Monday, the Cardinals recalled INF/OF Brendan Donovan from Triple-A. Donovan has torn the cover off the ball at Triple-A Memphis this season, slashing .298/.385/.404 with one homer and six RBI across 65 plate appearances. The 25-year-old infielder is capable of handling multiple positions defensively and will likely function in a versatile bench role. To make room, the club optioned outfielder Lars Nootbaar to Memphis. With both Corey Dickerson and Albert Pujols on the roster, Nootbaar didn’t have a clear path to everyday at-bats.

Future Hall of Fame catcher Yadier Molina is two RBI shy of 1,000 for his career and he currently trails Cardinals Hall of Famer Ken Boyer, who ranks 6th in franchise history with 1,001 RBI. Yadi will tie Hall of Famer Ted Simmons (172) for 9th on the Cardinals all-time home run list with his next round-tripper.

It’s Jordan Hicks (1-1, 1.29) on the mound. Hicks allowed one run over three innings last Thursday in a loss to the Marlins. Hicks was saddled with a tough-luck loss in his first career start. He gave up just two hits, recorded three strikeouts and handed out a pair of free passes in the abbreviated outing. The hard-throwing 25-year-old righty holds a 1.00 WHIP and 8/4 K/BB ratio across seven innings (three appearances, one start) this season.

“I liked a lot of it, and the only thing I didn’t like were the walks,” said Hicks, a four-year big-league veteran who had previously made 114 relief appearances. “My stuff is too good to be walking people out there. I’ve just got to get locked in and avoid the walks.”

Of his 46 pitches vs. Miami 14 of them topped 100-plus mph. That’s down from earlier in his career, when Hicks threw 941 of his first 1,997 pitches at 100 mph or faster (47.1 percent). In three outings this season — two out of the bullpen when starting chances were pushed back because of rain — Hicks has thrown 24 of his 108 pitches at 100 mph or faster (22.2 percent).

Hicks has some of the best stuff in the major leagues. If he can figure out his control issues at any point this season, the Cardinals pitching staff could be spectacular.