St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 5/16/2022

Time: 7:10 p.m. ET

Venue: Citi Field, Flushing, NY

Where to watch: Bally Sports Midwest, SNY

DraftKings:  NYM -120, STL +100; O/U 8.5u -120

BetMGM:  NYM -120, STL +100; O/U 8o -115

Caesars:  NYM -117, STL +107, O/U 8o -125

Cardinals: 19-15

Mets: 23-14

It's not often I can look at a team that's just three games over .500 and say, 'yeah, they're the best team in the National League Central.' And given the fact that the St. Louis Cardinals have the bottom-line best team in that division, I just have a feeling their time will come at some point.

The Cardinals are entering Sunday playing their final game of a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, coming off a 4-0 win on Saturday. Yadier Molina had two hits to move past Mike Piazza for sixth-most all-time among catchers with 2,129 in what has already been a Hall-of-Fame career. 

“If we’re going to go through this stretch where we’ve talked about our offense quite a bit, we’re going to have to win ballgames the way we did,” manager Oliver Marmol said. “We pitch well, we play good defense, make good decisions and score three or four runs. There will be a stretch where we will score runs, but you still have to win when you aren’t feeling great.”

Molina, in true Molina fashion, even threw out Joc Pederson trying to steal second base. Molina stood  up to receive the pitch from Dakota Hudson, and the rocket was ready to catch Pederson in a run-down. Again, typical Molina stuff.

“The Giants like to be aggressive on the bases, and I was ready,” said Molina, who scored the Cardinals’ first run of the day after doubling off the wall. “We executed that play well, and I’m happy about it. That was one of the turning points. I know the Giants like to do that but I was ready for it.”

Tommy Edman hit a home run in the fifth inning, and Nolan Arenado continued his MVP campaign by going 2-for-4 with his 27th RBI of the season. Sometimes I wonder how this year's version of the Colorado Rockies would've looked had he played.

The New York Mets lost 8-7 to the Seattle Mariners in their series finale on Sunday, but we're going to spend time focusing on the positive as it pertains to what might be the best team in the National League. New York won 5-4 on Saturday thanks to a young lad named Patrick Mazeika.

After the Mariners tied it with a 3-run home run, Mazeika hit a go-ahead homer to give the Mets the win and continue to establish just how dominant they've been.

“If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that you’ve got to be ready for anything,” Mazeika said. “Just embrace it. I’m always going to be ready to play whenever. That mindset’s allowed me to just come in and try to transition a little bit more seamlessly.”

Keep in mind that the Mets are still doing this without Jacob deGrom, and if this rotation continues to stifle opponents the way it has, there's no telling what the Mets can do with a complete roster.

Francisco Lindor went 1-for-3 with two RBI, bringing his batting average to .231. Which is weird because every time I see a highlight from him, I keep thinking he's batting near .300 and is crushing baseballs every single day. That distinction still belongs to Pete Alonso, batting .273 and leading the team in homers and RBI.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Mets made another eventual move for a bat at some point.

Given the way the Mets lost Sunday to the Mariners, I am inclined to believe they will bounce back and get the job done. But the Cardinals are sending Miles Mikolas, who leads them with a 1.49 ERA, to the mound, and this could call for a rough go for the Mets. Cardinals win 5-3

Cardinals 10-6 Under on the Road this season
Cardinals 28-17 (+12.8 net games) on the Road with Mikolas as a starter
Mets 19-7 (+9.4 net games) this season vs. RHP starters
Mets 15-21 (-12.5 net games) vs. NL Central division foes

Cardinals:
Tommy Edman (S) 2B
Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
Nolan Arenado (R) 3B
Juan Yepez (R) LF
Albert Pujols (R) DH
Yadier Molina (R) C
Dylan Carlson (S) RF
Harrison Bader (R) CF
Edmundo Sosa (R) SS
SP - Miles Mikolas

Mets:
Brandon Nimmo (L) CF
Starling Marte (R) RF
Francisco Lindor (S) SS
Pete Alonso (R) 1B
Mark Canha (R) LF
J.D. Davis (R) DH
Eduardo Escobar (S) 3B
Jeff McNeil (L) 2B
Tomas Nido (R) C
SP - Trevor Williams

Batting average: Nolan Arenado -- .311

Hits: Nolan Arenado -- 38

Home runs: Nolan Arenado -- 7

RBI: Nolan Arenado -- 27

Wins: Four tied -- 3

Saves: Giovanny Gallegos -- 6

ERA: Miles Mikolas -- 1.49

Batting average: Jeff McNeil -- .308

Hits: Two tied -- 37

Home runs: Pete Alonso -- 8

RBI: Pete Alonso -- 29

Wins: Three tied -- 4

Saves: Edwin Diaz -- 8

ERA: Chris Bassitt -- 2.34