Cardinals vs Mets Odds – Ailing Mets' staff will cool down St. Louis bats

St. Louis and New York were thought to be two of the top MLB betting choices for this upcoming season, and they haven’t disappointed yet as they are both near the top of their divisions. The two meet for a four-game set at Citi Field this week, and even though St. Louis slugger Albert Pujols is red hot, the Mets’ patchwork rotation will rise to the challenge.

Cardinals Mets Odds – Mets’ staff will step up game against Cards despite injuries

• Redding grabs first win of the year against struggling Wellemeyer
• Hernandez continues to turn back the clock
• Runs aplenty in Wednesday shootout
• Carpenter-Santana duel will be the highlight of the series

Monday, June 22, 7:10 PM ET
Todd Wellemeyer (6-6, 5.36) vs Tim Redding (0-2, 6.27)

Wellemeyer won for the first time in three starts in a 4-3 victory over Detroit, and he’ll be facing a team who has hit him hard in the past. The 30-year-old righthander is 0-1 in six games (three starts) against New York, posting a 6.97 ERA, and he gave up four runs in five innings to take a no-decision in a 6-4 win earlier this year. Redding was forced into the rotation because of injuries to John Maine and Oliver Perez, and he’s racked three straight no-decisions. Against the Cardinals, Redding is 3-5 in 13 games (12 starts) with a 5.65 ERA. The 31-year-old righty is settling into his spot in the rotation while Wellemeyer is dealing with possible velocity problems, which could throw off some online betting players.

MLB betting pick: Mets

Tuesday, June 23, 7:10 PM ET
Joel Pineiro (5-8, 3.77) vs Livan Hernandez (5-1, 4.18)

Pineiro has dropped his last five starts and eight of his last nine overall, but he’s a solid 2-0 in four starts against the Mets with a 3.96 ERA. However, the 30-year-old righthander has struggled away from home, going 2-5 with a 5.27 ERA. This will be Hernandez’s first start at home in five games, and he bounced back from a rough outing against the Yankees with a decent start against the Orioles. The 34-year-old is 5-6 in 17 starts against the Cardinals in his career, posting a 4.71 ERA, but he’s been very good at Citi Field this year, which will give the Mets the edge in your sports betting lines.

MLB betting pick: Mets

Wednesday, June 24, 7:10 PM ET
Brad Thompson (2-2, 3.89) vs Fernando Nieve (2-0, 1.84)

Thompson was moved into the rotation thanks to an injury to Kyle Lohse, and he’s won his last two starts. He’s never made a start against the Mets, but he has a 2-0 record and a 3.38 ERA in nine relief appearances against New York. Nieve is also in the rotation because of injuries and ineffectiveness to other starters, and like Thompson, he’s come out on the winning end in his last two starts. The 26-year-old righthander has made three relief appearances against the Cardinals, but a 5.79 ERA is alarming. This is a tough game for online sports wagering players to handicap since neither is a usual starter, so this would be the game to take the over on the posted total.

MLB betting pick: Cardinals

Thursday, June 25, 1:10 PM ET
Chris Carpenter (5-1, 1.53) vs Johan Santana (8-5, 3.22)

This could be the pitching matchup of the week for those who make sports picks. Carpenter, the 2005 Cy Young winner, looks to be back to his best, and he has yet to allow more than three runs in any of his nine starts this year. He’s 1-3 in four starts against the Mets in his career with a 5.09 ERA, but the way he’s pitching right now, it would be tough to bet against him. On the flip side, “Johan the Great” has been less than great lately, although he looked a little better in a 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay, going a season-high 7.1 innings. Santana has made one start against the Cardinals, throwing a complete-game six-hitter in a 9-1 romp last year. Look for him to get out of his slump in an exciting duel against another former Cy Young winner.

MLB betting pick: Mets

For more MLB betting odds in the best online sportsbook in the industry, keep it locked to BetOnline.com.

Before his arm flamed out, Dale “Skip” Lalonde was famous for his high-90s heat and power at the plate. He retired young but never turned his back on baseball, earning the nickname “Skip” for his high-school coaching prowess. A true student of the game, he loves crunching the numbers when he handicaps baseball. Email Comments@BetOnline.com.