New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Prediction for Tuesday March 31 2026
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The New York Mets travel to face the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, with first pitch scheduled for 7:45 PM on March 31, 2026. The game will be broadcast on MLB.TV. The Mets enter as favorites with a moneyline of -168, while the Cardinals sit at +139. The run line shows New York at -1.5 (-102) and St. Louis at +1.5 (-118), with the total set at 8.5 runs. As you prepare for this matchup, be sure to check out the latest insights and trends with free MLB picks.
Starting Pitching Matchup
The starting pitching matchup features Kodai Senga for the New York Mets and Andre Pallante for the St. Louis Cardinals. Kodai Senga enters after a 2025 season where he posted a 7-6 record with a 3.02 ERA, 109 strikeouts, and a 1.31 WHIP, demonstrating solid run prevention and consistent strikeout ability. On the other side, Andre Pallante had a 6-15 record with a 5.31 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and a 1.44 WHIP in 2025, reflecting a season where he struggled to limit runs despite generating strikeouts.
Mets Carrying Momentum Into St. Louis
The New York Mets come into this game with a 3-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark on the road. Over their last five games, they have shown strong form, recently winning over St. Louis, Pittsburgh twice, and splitting another game with Pittsburgh while losing a close contest to Miami. Their most recent performance was a 4-2 win over the Cardinals, continuing a productive stretch.
From a statistical standpoint, the Mets are hitting .245 as a team with 18 runs on 26 hits, including 3 home runs. They have posted a .349 on-base percentage and a .387 slugging percentage. On the pitching side, they hold a 3.00 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .246. They have recorded 31 strikeouts and issued 12 walks, showing a balanced approach on the mound.
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A key strength for the Mets is their pitching consistency. A 3.00 ERA combined with a steady strikeout total and controlled walk rate suggests they are capable of limiting scoring opportunities. This has allowed them to stay competitive even when their offense is not overly explosive.
Cardinals Looking to Bounce Back at Home
The St. Louis Cardinals enter this matchup with a 2-2 overall record and a 2-2 mark at home. Over their last five games, they have had mixed results, recently losing to the Mets and Tampa Bay while securing wins over Tampa Bay twice and Houston. Their most recent game was a 4-2 loss to New York, highlighting some of the challenges they have faced.
St. Louis is hitting .292 as a team with 22 runs on 31 hits, including 5 home runs. They have posted a .322 on-base percentage and a .491 slugging percentage. However, their pitching has struggled with a 7.07 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP while allowing opponents to hit .339. They have recorded 19 strikeouts and issued 13 walks, indicating both limited strikeout production and control issues.
One of the most significant concerns for the Cardinals is their pitching. A 7.07 ERA and a 1.93 WHIP highlight difficulty in preventing runs and limiting baserunners. Even with strong offensive production, this imbalance has made it difficult to consistently secure wins.
New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Prediction
New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Pick
Pick: New York Mets Moneyline
The Mets hold an advantage in this matchup due to their more consistent pitching performance. With a 3.00 ERA compared to the Cardinals’ 7.07, New York has shown the ability to limit scoring opportunities. While St. Louis has been strong offensively, their pitching struggles, including a high WHIP and opponent batting average, create a significant gap. Combined with New York’s recent win over St. Louis, the Mets are in a strong position to win this game.
New York Mets vs St. Louis Cardinals Total Pick
Pick: Over 8.5
I’m leaning toward the over in this matchup because St. Louis has shown strong offensive production with a .292 batting average and .491 slugging percentage. At the same time, their pitching struggles with a 7.07 ERA suggest that New York will have opportunities to score. Even though the Mets have been solid on the mound, the combination of St. Louis’ offense and their own pitching issues makes this game likely to see enough runs to push it over the total.
Final Score Prediction
New York Mets 6 – St. Louis Cardinals 4
This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Monday.
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