VS.
Monday, June 25 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
STL Mike Maroth, LHP (5-2, 5.06)
Cardinals (33-38) @ NYM Jorge Sosa, RHP (6-3, 4.05)
Mets (40-32)
Scouting Report:
Cardinals: Maroth makes his National League debut at Shea Stadium in the opener of a rematch of last year's NL Championship Series. He was having a bit of a rough year this season, with his walks and homers both up, but the Cardinals are optimistic that they've added a contributor. Maroth has a 3.75 lifetime ERA against NL opponents.
Mets: The Twins used a mixture of well-struck hits and well-placed hits to bury Sosa in merely 3 1/3 innings Tuesday night at Shea Stadium. It was his second straight inadequate start following his eight shutout innings against the Tigers on June 8. Now he faces a team he pitched for last season. Sosa pitched seven scoreless innings against the Cardinals in 2005 while pitching for the Braves.
Tuesday, June 26 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
STL Todd Wellemeyer, RHP (2-1, 6.65)
Cardinals (33-38) @ NYM Oliver Perez, LHP (7-6, 3.16)
Mets (40-32)
Scouting Report:
Cardinals: Sometimes a starter's pitching line doesn't always tell the story, and that was the case for Wellemeyer last time out against the Royals. The big righty went five innings and gave up four runs -- two earned -- while striking out three and not walking a hitter. He suffered some bad luck when he gave up three runs in the first, off an infield hit and two errors. He settled down after that and put together a start to build on.
Mets: Perez didn't fare so well against the Twins on Wednesday. In one of his shortest outings this season, he walked five and allowed four runs on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. The loss to Minnesota was the left-hander's third in the month of June and he'll be looking to get back on track in this start. Perez is 2-5 with a 4.83 ERA in the 11 times he's seen the Cardinals.
Wednesday, June 27 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
STL Brad Thompson, RHP (5-2, 4.86)
Cardinals (33-38) @ NYM Tom Glavine, LHP (6-5, 4.38)
Mets (40-32)
Scouting Report:
Cardinals: Thompson was nothing short of outstanding his last time out against the Royals. The righty went seven innings and gave up just one run, which came in the seventh, and he threw just 78 pitches. He's a pitcher that relies on his sinker, and it was working for him against Kansas City. It's still not a certainty that he'll take this spot, but the Cards have few other options and Thompson has been one of their best starters lately.
Mets: After lopsided losses in his two previous starts, Glavine pitched his best game of the season and won for the first time in six starts Friday night against the A's. He pitched into the ninth inning for the first time since his final start of 2005 and matched his season high in strikeouts, five. As a result, career victory No. 300 no longer seems so distant. He's at 295 and -- again -- counting.
Thursday, June 28 Purchase Tickets Shea Stadium | 7:10 PM ET
STL Adam Wainwright
Cardinals (33-38) @ NYM Orlando Hernandez, RHP (3-3, 2.77)
Mets (40-32)
Scouting Report:
Mets: Hernandez was solid on Saturday against Oakland, tossing seven scoreless innings on six hits, but his offense also struggled to put runs on the board. The right-hander struck out seven on the night and walked just one to record the no-decision. He threw a season-high 119 pitches, which may be an issue in this start. He had five days' rest the last time he exceeded 100, this time he's only getting four days. El Duque will look to deliver his first win since the end of May. He beat the Cards the only time he's faced them, garnering a 1.29 ERA in seven innings pitched.
Good luck charms.
