St. Louis @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2016 ) St. Louis 0, NY Mets 0

The St. Louis Cardinals got a much-needed rest thanks to Mother Nature when Monday’s series opener at the New York Mets was postponed due to rain. The rest ends with at least 18 innings in one day when the series kicks off with a single-admission doubleheader on Tuesday.

The Cardinals did not get into New York until 6:45 a.m. on Monday in part due to thunderstorms in the St. Louis area that followed the team East, washing out Monday’s game. St. Louis finished up a disappointing 6-4 homestand with a pair of losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend and watched on Monday as its biggest rivals and the team it’s chasing in the National League Central – the Chicago Cubs – got stronger by trading for closer Aroldis Chapman. The Mets have traded wins and losses over the last nine games and find themselves in a similar position to last season in front of the trade deadline, hanging in games on the strength of the pitching while searching for more offense. New York took off after bringing in Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe in 2015 and is searching for another spark to get it out of third place in the NL East.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (9-6, 2.83 ERA) vs. Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (9-4, 2.43)

Martinez is working the opener of a doubleheader for the second straight start after leading St. Louis to a 4-2 win in the first of a twinbill against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The Dominican Republic native surrendered two runs in seven frames in that outing and allowed three or fewer in each of his last nine outings. Martinez is seeing the Mets for the first time this season and held them to one earned run in 10 1/3 innings over two appearances in 2015.

Syndergaard appeared well rested after taking 11 days off surrounding the All-Star break and struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings at the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday. The 23-year-old Texan allowed an unearned run and did not factor in the decision in that turn. Syndergaard lost his only career start against St. Louis despite yielding two runs and five hits in seven innings on July 17, 2015.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals purchased the contract of veteran RHP Jerome Williams from Triple-A Memphis and optioned RHP Mike Mayers.

2. Johnson is expected to start in place of 2B Neil Walker, who is mired in a 4-for-45 slump.

3. St. Louis is an MLB-best 27-16 on the road and will play 19 of its next 25 away from home.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 2, Mets 1