Mets vs. Cardinals prediction: MLB odds, picks, best bets for Wednesday

If there’s one bright spot in the Cardinals’ sluggish start to 2024, it’s the scorching pitching momentum of Sonny Gray. 

In fact, a “bright spot” would be an understatement; Gray has been nothing short of sensational on the hill throughout his first five outings in St. Louis. 

One of those came against the Mets, who he’ll face again for the second time in 10 days on Wednesday afternoon.

Here’s a betting preview of the game with an MLB prediction and pick.

Mets vs. Cardinals odds

Mets vs. Cardinals prediction & pick

Gray struck out nine hitters over six innings in the Cards’ 7-4 win over the Mets on April 27.

The right-handed vet’s knack for the zone keeps his arm charged; he only tossed 94 pitches for 58 strikes against the Mets. 

St. Louis tacked four runs onto the board against a struggling Adrian Houser before Gray even threw a pitch, essentially burying the Mets for the rest of the ballgame. 

New York will attempt to avoid the same start against Gray with Jose Quintana now opposing him at Busch Stadium.

Quintana returns to action after getting taken to the woodshed by the Rays. 

He relinquished three runs in the second inning followed by a five-spot in the third before getting relieved. 

The 35-year-old southpaw had his best performance of the season against the Cardinals, allowing three hits, one walk and three strikeouts through eight innings.

There’s a lot of reliance on fielding for Quintana to progress unscathed. 

He’s most proficient in generating ground balls, but hitters aren’t biting on anything in his arsenal. 

Quinatana carries an ice-cold 17.8 whiff rate and strikes out 6.19 batters per nine innings. 

Gray, on the other hand, is sitting down 11.27 per nine. That’s just one of numerous categories he holds a considerable advantage in this pitching matchup. 

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The Mets make better contact and have reached base more consistently, but Gray has already muzzled this lineup before.

Pick: Cardinals -1.5 (+136, FanDuel)