New York @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2011 ) NY Mets 6, St. Louis 11

THE STORY: The St. Louis Cardinals have been playing must-win games for a month as they scramble to keep their postseason hopes alive, and their margin for error remains as small as ever as they continue a three-game series against the New York Mets on Wednesday at Busch Stadium. After an 11-6 triumph in the series opener Tuesday, the Cardinals have won 11 of 13 to stay in the playoff hunt. They remain 2 1/2 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the wild-card race. The Mets must win their final eight games to avoid a third consecutive losing season.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, SNY, Fox Sports Midwest

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Chris Schwinden (0-2, 5.40 ERA) vs. Cardinals LH Jaime Garcia (12-7, 3.59 ERA)

Schwinden will make his third major league start in search of his first win. He pitched well enough to win Thursday against Washington, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings in a 10-1 loss.

After going winless in August, Garcia seems to have regained his form this month. He's 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA in three September starts. He allowed one run over seven innings Friday at Philadelphia, but didn't factor in the decision as the Cardinals needed extra innings for a 4-2 win. Garcia has a 2.08 ERA in two starts against the Mets, but he didn't get a decision in either game.

ABOUT THE METS (73-81): New York has lost eight of 10 to drop a season-worst eight games below .500 with eight to play. The bullpen imploded Tuesday, with Josh Stinson, Tim Byrdak and D.J. Carrasco struggling to get out of the six-run seventh. About the only thing left for Mets fans to get excited about is leadoff man Jose Reyes' bid to become the first Mets player to win a batting title. Reyes is hitting .330 and trails Milwaukee's Ryan Braun by two points for the NL lead.

ABOUT THE CARDINALS (85-69): The bench came through for the Cardinals on Tuesday, as pinch hitters Ryan Theriot and Adron Chambers delivered the big hits in a six-run seventh inning. Theriot hit a two-run ground-rule double, and Chambers followed with a three-run triple. The Cardinals have been without outfielder Matt Holliday (finger) for six games, but they hope to have him back in the lineup this weekend against the Chicago Cubs.

FINAL PITCH: St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols went 4-for-5 Tuesday for his 36th career four-hit game and his seventh this season. Pujols is hitting .304 with 36 home runs and 97 RBIs and is on the verge of his 11th consecutive season with at least a .300 average, 30 homers and 100 RBIs.