Mets at Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals look to stay hot at home when they host the New York Mets on Sunday in the rubber match of a three-game series. Saturday's 10-2 victory gave the Cardinals six wins in their last seven games at home, where they play their next six after the Mets leave town.
Jose Martinez had three hits and three RBIs while Paul Goldschmidt slugged a 464-foot home run Saturday for St. Louis, which has scored at least four runs in each game during its 6-1 surge at home. Despite the loss, the day was not all bad for New York, which saw ace Jacob deGrom play catch and declare that his elbow "actually felt good," potentially avoiding an MRI and a lengthier stay on the injured list. Cardinals right-hander Dakota Hudson has yet to allow an earned run in 19 career innings at Busch Stadium and will try to keep that trend intact when he starts the series finale. Noah Syndergaard gets the nod for the Mets, who have lost five of their last seven.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Noah Syndergaard (1-1, 5.63 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Dakota Hudson (0-1, 6.08)
Syndergaard posted season highs in runs allowed (five), hits allowed (nine) and strikeouts (nine) in a no-decision at Philadelphia on Monday. He has a 7.36 ERA in two road starts. The 26-year-old Texas native owns a 3.08 ERA in four career starts against St. Louis.
Hudson has allowed 10 runs in eight innings on 15 hits - five home runs - in two starts against Milwaukee this year, but posted a total of 5 1/3 scoreless frames in his other two outings. He spun 4 2/3 frames without giving up a run in a 4-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in his only prior home start. The former first-round pick, who has yet to face the Mets, yielded 13 hits while working around 12 walks in his 19 career innings without an earned run at home.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York RHP Chris Flexen was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday to take deGrom's roster spot and gave up six runs over 4 1/3 innings while taking the loss.
2. Cardinals 3B Matt Carpenter left Saturday's game in the sixth inning with a bruised left knee.
3. Mets SS Amed Rosario is 8-for-29 during his seven-game hitting streak.