New York @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( May 15, 2013 ) NY Mets 2, St. Louis 4

The St. Louis Cardinals have won 12 of their last 14 games and will be attempting to sweep a four-game series when they host the New York Mets in Thursday's finale. The Cardinals have ridden three young starters in the first three games of the series but will turn things over to ace Adam Wainwright to close it out. The Mets have dropped six in a row and have not scored more than four runs in a game since May 3.

New York knew the offense would be a problem at the beginning of the season but it probably did not count on the mental errors piling up. John Buck, who leads the team with 10 home runs, ran into a pair of outs on the bases in Wednesday’s 4-2 setback while star David Wright compounded a three-strikeout night with a fielding error that helped keep a St. Louis rally alive. The Cardinals own the best record in the majors and have surrendered two or fewer runs in nine of the last 15 contests.

TV: 1:45 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jon Niese (2-4, 5.93 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (5-2, 2.30)

Niese has been awful of late, allowing a total of 15 runs and 15 hits while walking nine over 8 1/3 innings in his last two starts - both losses. The 26-year-old worked on his mechanics in front of a mirror during the week and had a strong bullpen session. Niese has handled St. Louis in the past, owning a 2-1 record with a 1.83 ERA in four starts.

Wainwright took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against Colorado on Saturday and ended up with a two-hit shutout. The veteran right-hander has issued only four walks while striking out 55 in 58 2/3 total innings and has seven quality starts in eight turns. New York has never been a good matchup for Wainwright, who owns a 1-3 record with a 7.90 ERA in six games (four starts) against the Mets. He was pounded for 12 runs in 11 1/3 innings against the Mets last season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Mets CF Rick Ankiel had two hits, including a two-run homer, on Wednesday - his first hits since joining the team Monday.

2. The Cardinals have not swept a four-game series from New York since 1982.

3. St. Louis LF Matt Holliday has scored five runs in the series.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 6, Mets 2