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Hacking Scandal
The FBI is still investigating the [crossout]Cheaty McCheatersons[/crossout] Cardinals for their undoubtedly criminal conduct in breaching the Houston Astros' proprietary database. Scouting director/scapegoat Chris Correa was fired but Major League Baseball is apparently waiting for the FBI to finish their investigation before meeting out the punishment the Cardinals so richly deserve.
Cardinals' First Half
Cardinals have a 56-33 record (best baseball). They've done this with outstanding pitching;
Cardinals have a 2.71 ERA (also the best in MLB). For comparison's sake, the Mets are #3 at 3.23. Unlike the Mets, they manage to hit a little as well. No one's having an MVP year but they're getting production out of most spots in the lineup. They've also done well beating up on crappy teams: they were 16-6 against Cincinnati, Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the first half.
The Cardinals did just drop 3 of 4 to Pittsburgh going into the All-Star break. This could also be partly due to the fact that Pittsburgh is also a very good team (second-best record in baseball).
The Mets and Cardinals split a four game series in New York in May. The two losses came in blowouts where Niese and Colon got shelled. The winning pitchers in those games were Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez, who won't pitch in this series. The two Mets wins were in well-pitched games by Harvey and deGrom, who also won't pitch in this series.
The Cardinals have a .738 home winning percentage.
Pitching Matchups:
Friday (8:15 EDT):
Lance Lynn (R) v. Syndergaard
2.90 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 16 starts this year; a solid 9.5 K/9 innings.
Had been on the DL earlier this year with a forearm injury.
Lynn lost twice to the Mets last year, giving up big hits to unlikely candidates (ie. Chris Young, Eric Young, Jr., and Bartolo Colon).
Saturday (7:15 EDT):
John Lackey (R) v. Colon
2.99 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 18 starts this year. A free agent after this year at age 36, he's making a good push for one more contract.
Lackey pitched well against the Mets in May in a pitcher's duel with Harvey (Mets won in 14 innings).
Sunday (2:15 PM EDT):
TBD v. Jon Niese
Not announced yet but it will probably be Tim Cooney (L); it appears the Cardinals will give the extra rest to top starters Carlos Martinez and Michael Wacha.
Cooney was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in 2012. It will be his fifth major league start.
Lineup:
C - Yadier Molina (R)
The defense remains strong, but the offense isn't there for Yadier the way it once was. .284 batting average is fine but few walks (.323 OBP) and not much power (.358). The neck tattoo remains.
1B - Mark Reynolds (R)
Took over the job after Matt Adams' injury. .681 OPS. Strikes out a full one-third of all plate appearances.
2B - Kolten Wong (L)
Solid defense plus a decent bat (.343 OBP, 9 homers and 18 doubles).
3B - Matt Carpenter (L)
Has put up a .801 OPS (9 homers) but a far cry from his 6.4 WAR season of 2013. He has been slumping badly.
SS - Jhonny Peralta (R)
Started in the All-Star game and is the Cardinals WAR leader. I was struck by Joe Buck calling Peralta a "legtimate MVP candidate" during the all-star game. Perhaps Joe forgot that Harper and Goldschmit play in the National League. Suspended for PED use while with the Tigers. .828 OPS and 13 homers.
LF - Randal Grichuk (R)
Former first-round pick of the Angels who came to the Cardinals in the David Freese trade (along with Bourjos). Having a nice breakout season (.853 OPS) at age 23. 29 of his 53 hits for extra bases. Leads the NL wth 6 triples.
CF - Peter Bourjos (L)
Playing every day with Matt Holliday and Jon Jay out. The weak spot in the lineup (a negative 0.3 WAR).
27-year-old rookie Tommy Pham (R) has been getting some starts recently but hasn't hit either.
RF - Jason Heyward (L)
Having a solid but unspectacular season: .273/.327/.416. Free agent at the end of the year.
Bench:
Nobody of note. Backup infielder Pete Kozma (R) and backup catcher Tony Cruz (R) don't hit.
Bullpen:
All-star closer Trevor Rosenthal (R) didn't pitch in the ASG because of arm soreness. Has been very good this year (1.49 ERA and 26 saves) but has had a very heavy workload (
Kevin Siegrist (L) has been just as good: 1.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 11.5 Ks/9 IP.
We also don't want to face Carlos Villaneuva (R); 1.72 ERA and 1.11 WHIP.
Miguel Socolovich (R) is also bad news: 1.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP.
Randy Choate (L) is the situational reliever (18 innings in 44 appearances). A 4.00 ERA but only a 1.00 WHIP.
Injuries:
Matt Holliday: quad strain, 15-day DL.
Jon Jay: wrist injury, 15-day DL.
Jaime Garcia: groin injury, 15-day DL
Jordan Walden: biceps injury, hasn't pitched since April.
Matt Adams: torn quad, out for the year
Adam Wainwright: torn achillies, out for the year.
No ex-Mets or ex-Cardinals on either team.
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