The New York Mets and St.Louis Cardinals finish their three-game set with the rubber match on Wednesday afternoon. The Mets won the first game of the series 4-3, led by a six-inning outing by Sean Manaea. The Mets needed a win in the series-opening game, as they had lost three of their last nine games before that, including a three-game sweep in Tampa Bay. The Cardinals are also in a mini-slump, losing four of their past ten games. It's the second series between these teams this season, as the Cardinals went into Queens and took two of three from the Mets. It is time to continue our MLB odds series with a Mets-Cardinals prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

Jose Quintana will get the start for the Mets, and it's been an up-and-down season for him. The left-hander had his worst outing of the season against the Rays last time, going just 2 2/3 innings, allowing ten hits and eight earned runs. The start rose his ERA to 5.20 and is 8.04 over his previous three games. His ERA is even more surprising given his start against these same Cardinals last week, going eight innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Which Jose Quintana will show up for the Mets on Wednesday?

Sonny Gray has been much more consistent for the Cardinals, pitching through six innings in each of his last four starts. Gray only appeared in five games this season after suffering a hamstring injury in spring training but has been hot out of the gate, allowing just three earned runs. He is 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA. Once Gray exits the game, his bullpen is also successful, owning a 2.89 ERA.

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Mets-Cardinals Odds

New York Mets: +1.5 (-160)

Moneyline: +136

St.Louis Cardinals: -1.5 (+132)

Moneyline: -162

Over: 8 (-105)

Under: 8 (-115)

How to Watch Mets vs. Cardinals

Time: 1:15 PM ET/10:15 AM PT

TV: SNY, Bally Sports Midwest

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Mets Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Mets offense has been re-emerging after a poor stretch of games. They have a .231 average and five runs/nine over their past five games. These numbers aren't the greatest and won't beat most good offensive teams. However, the Cardinals have been even worse, batting .184 and averaging just 2.6 runs/nine. Sonny Gray has been the Cardinals' best pitcher this season, but even he will need more run support than 2.6 runs/nine.

Why The Cardinals Will Cover The Spread/Win

If Sonny Gray continues pitching like he has been to start the season, the Cardinals will have a chance to win in every one of his starts. Gray has three scoreless outings in his first five starts and hasn't allowed more than five hits in any game. The Cardinals will take the rubber match if they can jumpstart their offense against a shaken Quintana from his last start

Final Mets-Cardinals Prediction & Pick

The Cardinals have been one of the worst offensive teams in baseball, and that's even more clear over the last ten games with their marks of .184 and 2.6 runs/nine. You could look at those numbers and say it can't get much worse, but their stats against lefties over the last ten are putrid, batting .162 and averaging 1.9 runs/nine. Jose Quintana could have a field day against the Cardinals.

Sonny Gray is due some regression, but his form since the start of the season will at least keep his team in it. His bullpen is also above average, so it will be challenging for the Mets to generate offense all day. The Mets bullpen has been equally good, making this a great pitching battle up and down the roster.

There won't be a lot of runs in this game, but the Mets offense should be able to outlast the Cardinals and generate more. The Under and Mets moneyline are both in play.

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Final Mets-Cardinals Prediction & Pick: Mets ML (+136) & Under 8 (-115)