St. Louis @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) St. Louis 1, NY Mets 5

A high-octane pitching matchup is on tap in Thursday's series finale between the St. Louis Cardinals and host New York Mets. The Cardinals will send out ace Adam Wainwright while the Mets counter with stud right-hander Matt Harvey, who took the league by storm during the first three weeks of the season. Wainwright has struggled in his career against the Mets, going 1-4 with a bloated 7.29 ERA in seven appearances (five starts), including a loss last month.

Harvey had to leave his last start against Miami with tightness in his lower back and hip but said he could have remained in the game. The 24-year-old fireballer has the chance to end St. Louis' unbeaten series streak at 12 (10-0-2) with a victory on Thursday. Aside from the Cardinals' potent lineup, another obstacle facing Harvey is a dismal weather forecast. Soaking rains are expected Thursday, putting the game in jeopardy.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Midwest (St. Louis), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (9-3, 2.34 ERA) vs. Mets RH Matt Harvey (5-0, 2.10)

Wainwright has won four consecutive starts, allowing a total of seven runs over 31 1/3 innings in that span. He limited Cincinnati to two runs over seven innings his last time out and has not lost since giving up four runs (three earned) in a 5-2 setback to the Mets on May 16. New York's Daniel Murphy is 6-for-9 and Omar Quintanilla 4-for-9 with two doubles apiece against Wainwright.

Harvey's numbers were off the charts after winning his first four starts - he allowed a total of three runs and a meager 10 hits while striking out 32 over 29 innings. He has one win and eight no-decisions in his past nine starts, despite yielding two runs or fewer in six of those turns. Harvey has faced the Cardinals only once, giving up three runs in five innings in a 5-1 loss last year.

WALK-OFFS

1. Wainwright has surrendered only two homers - both in one start at Milwaukee - while Harvey has permitted four.

2. New York has scored 10 runs in Harvey's last five starts at Citi Field.

3. Wainwright is 6-1 in eight road starts but has allowed at least 11 hits on three of those occasions.

PREDICTION: Mets 3, Cardinals 2