Here are five things to watch and predictions as the Mets and Cardinals play a three-game series in St. Louis beginning on Friday at 8:15 p.m. on SNY.
Preview
The bullpen is in flux
With A.J. Minter and Danny Young both out for a significant amount of time, the Mets have been relying on some of their depth relievers lately.
On Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, Chris Devenski pitched the final two innings after Brandon Waddell — who had been starting in the minors — tossed 4.1 scoreless frames in relief.
Both Waddell and Devenski were optioned back to Triple-A Syracuse following the game, with left-hander Genesis Cabrera and right-hander Ty Adcock called up to replace them.
Cabrera, who has had big league success as recently as last season with the Blue Jays, is New York’s only lefty reliever at the moment.
Meanwhile, Dedniel Núñez — who missed the second half of last season due to injury and has been shaking the cobwebs off in Triple-A — could be back in the big league bullpen “shortly.”
Can Tylor Megill keep it going?
Megill has been tremendous this season, and the results aren’t a fluke.
To go along with his sterling 1.74 ERA (2.34 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP, Megill is striking out a career-best 11.3 batters per nine, allowing a career-low 6.7 hits per nine, and has an ERA+ of 224.
Megill’s advanced stats via Baseball Savant are mostly above average, and his stuff is performing as well as it ever has.
The upside has always been there for Megill, but he entered this season after a rocky first four years in the majors, where he combined to put up a 4.56 ERA.
Perhaps it’s all coming together for Megill in what is his age-29 season.
Luisangel Acuña’s development
Acuña opened this season needing to make strides offensively following an up-and-down 2024 season in the minors and a promising taste of the majors toward the end of the year.
And he’s succeeding.
Acuña entered play on Thursday with a 101 OPS+, which is a tick above league average.
He is hitting .288 with a .342 OBP to go along with five doubles, but Acuña hasn’t homered in his first 79 plate appearances after cracking three homers in just 40 plate appearances late in 2024.
Home run power isn’t expected to be a big part of Acuña’s game, but if he can tap into it just a bit, it will make him that much more formidable.
The Cardinals have been tough at home
The Mets took care of the Cardinals with relative ease during a four-game sweep last month at Citi Field, outscoring them 19-9.
St. Louis entered play on Thursday with a 14-17 record, though their run differential of +10 suggested that they’ve been a bit unlucky.
At home, the Cards are 10-5, including series wins over the Phillies, Astros, and Brewers.
The Cardinals have also been a relatively strong offensive team, scoring the 10th-most runs in baseball.
Brendan Donovan has been dangerous
Donovan has been one of the toughest outs in the St. Louis lineup.
Through 29 games, he’s slashing .333/.379/.491 with three homers, nine doubles, 17 RBI, and a career-best .870 OPS.
He also carried an eight-game on-base streak into play on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Nolan Arenado — who was nearly traded during the offseason and could be moved before the trade deadline — has been solid, with a .747 OPS.
Predictions
Who will the MVP of the series be?
Brandon Nimmo
Nimmo’s nine-RBI outburst earlier this week shouldn’t have been a huge surprise. He had been hitting the ball hard all season, but to that point had been the recipient of some seriously bad luck on balls in play.
Which Mets pitcher will have the best start?
Clay Holmes
Holmes has allowed two runs combined over his last three starts, spanning 16.0 innings.
Which Cardinals player will be a thorn in the Mets’ side?
Lars Nootbaar
Nootbaar has been heating up.
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