Mets’ deGrom draws critical start vs. Cards
On paper, tonight’s Cardinals-Mets showdown looks like a pitching enthusiast’s dream. After Tuesday’s highly unusual series opener, though, all bets may be off.
Visiting New York used six relievers to edge St. Louis, 7-4, at Busch Stadium. Mike Matheny’s club stranded 11 men, leaving two aboard in the third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth innings. It all amounted to the Redbirds’ 34th loss of the season in their own stadium.
The hosts hope to break the cycle this evening, with an 8:15 p.m. ET start time in the Midwest. Online sports book Bovada.lv gives the Cards odds of -105 to triumph, while Terry Collins’ troops are considered slight underdogs. The over/under run figure rests at 7.5.
Matheny hands the ball to Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24 ERA), whose recent outing at Minute Maid Park still has people buzzing. The 24-year-old limited the Astros to one run and fanned seven, continuing a banner second half. He’s 2-1 with a 1.31 ERA in six career appearances vs. the Mets.
Of course, Collins gets to deploy a top-shelf righty, too. Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) yearns to make amends for his last assignment. On Aug. 18, the Giants tagged him for 13 hits and eight runs in five frames. Even so, the 2015 All-Star holds a 4-2 record with a 1.08 WHIP since June 25.
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Martinez needn’t worry about tangling with 22-homer man Neil Walker (paternity leave) here. However, Yoenis Cespedes promises to test the ace-in-waiting’s mettle. Finally healthy following a bout with a bothersome quad, New York’s stalwart in the No. 3 hole boasts a. 462 batting average over the past three contests. Will the left fielder strike the big blow in a few hours? Eventually, one team or the other must score.
WEDNESDAY MLB FREE PICK: METS/CARDINALS UNDER 7.5 RUNS