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The Cardinals are 25-12, the best record in the majors. This is officially a BIG series.
Don't head out to [crossout]Shea[/crossout] Citi expecting a lot of runs. The Cardinals have the best team ERA in baseball at 2.92; the Mets are #2 at 3.05.
Pitching Matchups
Monday: John Lackey (R) v. Harvey (ESPN Broadcast for the out-of-towners)
2-2 in seven starts this year; 3.22 ERA; 30Ks/14BBs; 1.254 WHIP.
Lackey is in the final year of the deal he signed with the Red Sox after the 2009 season. He is making "only" the major league minimum due to a clause in the contract that tacked on this extra option year if he missed time due to an elbow injury (he missed 2012 after Tommy John surgery).
Lackey earned a reputation as a bit of a douchebag in Boston: he was part of the drink-beer-and-eat-fried-chicken group of pitchers in the 2011 season; there was the divorce from his wife that made the tabloids; and general antagonism with the fans there. He got traded to St. Louis at the 2014 trade deadline. Much was forgiven when he had a bounceback 2013 and the Red Sox won the World Series.
Lackey hasn't faced the Mets since 2008 when he was with the Angels. That game (a win for Lackey) is notable as it was Jerry Manuel's debut game as manager of the Mets.
Tuesday: Michael Wacha (R) v. Niese
Wacha is 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA and a 1.076 WHIP. He's got a big fastball but his strikeouts are down this year to only 5.4 per 9 innings.
Wacha faced the Mets twice last year, including a start where he struck out 9 batters in the first 3 innings but also walked five and was out of the game after the fourth inning; the Mets won the game. He fared better against the Mets in his second outing and won after pitching six strong innings (David did take him deep). Wacha missed a bunch of time last year due to a problem with the scapula in his throwing shoulder.
You may also remember Wacha winning the 2011 NLCS MVP in his first season, as a 21-year old rookie. I prefer to remember him more for surrendering Travis Ishikawa's walk-off, NLCS-clinching home run last year.
Wednesday: Carlos Martinez (R) v. Colon
Martinez is a 23-year old with good "stuff" but mixed results. 40 hits and 20 walks in 40 innings this year, with a 4.73 ERA. He leads the league with 4 wild pitches.
He was originally signed as an international free agent by Boston but the contract was voided due to discrepancies with his age and name (formerly Carlos Matias), resulting in a one-year suspension.
Had one short start against the Mets last year where he pitched four effective innings.
Thursday (1:10 start): Jaime Garcia (L) v. deGrom
This will be Garcia's 2015 debut after having shoulder surgery last July; he had more problems in spring training which delayed his return to the majors. Garcia hasn't pitched a full season since 2011. He had shoulder problems resulting in a shortened 2012 (20 starts), and additional season-ending surgery in 2013 (7 starts).
Garcia last faced the Mets in Septemer of 2012 and was victorious. He was also the starting pitcher in the infamous 20-inning game of April 2010.
Lineup:
C -Yadier Molina (R)
Also known as "that asshole with the neck tattoo." Seems like he's been around forever and should be older than 32. Not hitting as much this year after several big years in the recent past (4th in MVP voting in 2012; 3rd in 2013).
1B - Matt Adams (L)
Struggling this year; 26Ks and only 5 walks, with a .274 OBP. Reminds me of Lucas Duda, except with crappy hitting and crappy defense.
2B - Kolten Wong (L)
Age 24, and having his best offensive season so far (.824 OPS). Had 12 homers last year but only a .292 OBP. Good defensive player.
SS - Jhonny Peralta (R)
Proving that crime does pay, Peralta served a PED suspension in 2013 with the Tigers but then got a four year, $53M deal from the Cardinals before the 2014 season.
He hit 21 homers last year and already has 6 this year, with a .866 OPS. Consistent player who has never played less than 140 games in a year (except for the year he was suspended 50 games).
3B - Matt Carpenter (L)
Afer his breakout year in 2013, he regressed a little in 2014 (although still lead the league in walks). On fire so far this year with a 1.010 OPS (5th in the NL) and 24 of his 44 hits have been for extra bases.
LF - Matt Holliday (R)
Still hitting well, now at age 35. .911 OPS so far is second on the Cardinals, 9th in the National League.
After the 2009 season, both Jason Bay and Matt Holliday were free agents. Since re-signing with the Cardinals, Holliday has put up 20.5 WAR. Bay: less than one-tenth of that. Whoops.
CF - Peter Bourjos (R)
Name rhymes with "gorgeous." Playing every day with Jon Jay injured. Noted for his defense but has never been able to hit enough to stay in the lineup. Put up a 5.1 WAR in his only full season (2011, with the Angels) but has never been able to replicate that. .767 OPS so far this year is the best he's had since then.
I remember this guy as someone I wanted the Mets to trade for. I'm glad we have Lagares instead.
RF - Jason Heyward (L)
Acquired via trade this offseason from Atlanta. Free agent at the end of the year. Hast 8 career homers versus the Mets, as many as he has against any other opponent.
Heyward hit leadoff on Sunday night against the Tigers and may continue in that spot. The Cardinals have been rotating leadoff hitters since Jay went on the DL.
Cardinal Bench:
As of Sunday, the Cardinals are currently carrying 13 pitchers and only 4 bench players, all of whom bat right handed. Among them is Mark Reynolds, known for leading his league in strikeouts for four consecutive years, and also for hitting several of the longest-ever home runs at Citi Field.
Cardinal Bullpen:
The notables:
Trevor Rosenthal (R) is the closer. Put up 45 saves last year, but has been fantastic this year, allowing only 2 runs so far in his 17 appearances.
Kevin Siegrist (R), also very effective (1.02 ERA in 17 IP).
Matt Belisle (R), situational workhorse (averaged 73.6 appearances over his last 5 years with Colorado); pitching pretty well again this year.
Seth Maness (R), the only weak link so far, with a 5.52 ERA in 19 appearances.
Randy Choate (L) Yes, this guy is still in the majors! He's got 7.1 innings pitched this year...in 17 appearances. Expect to see him against Duda and/or Granderson (and probably no one else).
Cardinal Injuries:
Adam Wainwright, out for the year (Tommy John)
Jon Jay (no relation to America's first Chief Justice), wrist tendinitis, 15-day DL
Jordan Walden (strained shoulder, out until about the All-Star break)
Ex-Cardinals:
No players.
Jose Oquendo is the third base coach.
Ex-Mets:
None
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