New York @ St. Louis preview
Busch Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 4, 2012 ) St. Louis 5, NY Mets 4
The New York Mets remain a longshot for a playoff berth, but they can better their chances considerably with a sweep of their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which begins Monday afternoon at Busch Stadium. New York has won seven of its last eight to climb within eight games of St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League, a situation that was unthinkable on Aug. 24, when the Mets suffered a sixth straight defeat.
New York enters the series on the heels of a three-game sweep at Miami during which the Marlins scored a total of four runs. The Cardinals have more pressing concerns than the Mets, as the Los Angeles Dodgers trail them by one-half game in the wild-card standings and Pittsburgh sits 1 1/2 games back. St. Louis, which has lost five of six, completed a 4-6 road trip with a 4-3 setback at Washington on Sunday.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Collin McHugh (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Joe Kelly (4-6, 3.61)
McHugh was superb in his major-league debut against Colorado on Aug. 23, scattering two hits and a walk while striking out nine in seven scoreless innings, but came away with a no-decision. The 25-year-old also pitched well in the minors this season but was just 7-9 despite a 2.41 ERA in 25 starts between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo.
Following his first two major-league relief appearances, Kelly surrendered five runs and eight hits over five innings in a loss at Pittsburgh on Wednesday. The 24-year-old rookie has gone 3-6 while in the rotation but recorded the victory in his previous start on Aug. 14, when he limited Arizona to two runs over 6 1/3 frames. Kelly, who is 2-3 in nine games - eight starts - at home, will be facing New York for the first time.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Mets are 5-1 on their nine-game road trip.
2. Since being moved to the bullpen, Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn has surrendered five runs over 3 1/3 innings in three relief appearances.
3. New York OF Jason Bay's grand slam Sunday was his seventh home run of the season. Six of the blasts have been hit on the road.