The New York Mets (16-18) take on the St. Louis Cardinals (15-19) Monday in the opener of a 3-game set at Busch Stadium at 7:45 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Mets vs. Cardinals odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Cardinals lead 2-1
The Mets were swept on the road by the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend. They are already 7½ games out in the NL East in what is expected to be a season of transition. While still hitting for power, SS Francisco Lindor (6 HR) and 1B Pete Alonso (8 HR) are hitting just .207 and .206.
The Cards are in a worse spot after losing 2 of 3 at home to the worst team in baseball — the Chicago White Sox. They have lost 4 of 6 since taking 2 of 3 in Citi Field last month. They are tied for 28th with 3.5 R/game, 28th with a .214 BA and 29th with a .330 SLG%. C Willson Contreras has been the lone bright spot on offense, hitting .275 with 6 HRs and 11 RBIs.
Mets at Cardinals projected starters
LHP Sean Manaea vs. RHP Kyle Gibson
Manaea (1-1, 3.07 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.43 WHIP, 5.5 BB/9 and 9.2 K/9 in 29 1/3 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 K Tuesday against Chicago Cubs
- 1 career relief outing against STL: 1 1/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Gibson (2-2, 3.79 ERA) makes his 7th start. He has a 1.13 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9 and 6.9 K/9 in 38 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 7 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K Tuesday against Detroit Tigers
- Last 3 starts: 1-0, 1.42 ERA, 18 K in 19 IP
- Last 5 starts vs. Mets: 2-1, 3.18 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 27 K in 28 1/3 IP
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Mets at Cardinals odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:20 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Mets +105 (bet $100 to win $105) | Cardinals -125 (bet $125 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Mets +1.5 (-190) | Cardinals -1.5 (+155)
- Over/Under (O/U): 8 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Mets at Cardinals picks and predictions
Prediction
Mets 5, Cardinals 2
Moneyline
The Cards have scored just 18 runs in their last 6 Games as the faNBAse and local media have smashed the panic button. Their pitching, including Gibson, has been decent, but they continue to stink with runners in scoring position. The Cardinals are 28th in the league with a .202 BA with RISP.
The Mets have the advantage in the late innings as well as they boast the 4th-best 2.90 bullpen ERA.
Take the value with the METS +105.
Run line/Against the spread
The Mets are scoring runs. In fact, they scored 6 and 8 in losses to Tampa over the weekend. So let’s take a chance.
Upon logging into my BetMGM account, I had an MLB Bet Insurance Token.
Let’s use it on METS -1.5 (+165). A $20 bet would profit $33.
Over/Under
The Mets are 4-6 O/U over their last 10, and the Cards are 3-7. As mentioned, the Cards continue to flame out offensively, striking out a ton and hitting weak flyouts all over the park. It’s slated to be a 76-degree evening with a 6-mph gust blowing in from right-center.
Take the UNDER 8 (-105).
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