Doubleheader Information
St. Louis Cardinals (14-19) vs New York Mets (22-11)
Game 1: 12:15pm CT Sunday
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network
Probable pitchers: Erick Fedde (1-3, 4.68 ERA) vs Blade Tidwell (major league debut)
DraftKings moneyline: Mets -125, Cardinals +105
DraftKings total: 8.5 (over -118, under -102)
Game 2: 5:15pm CT Sunday
How to watch: FanDuel Sports Network
Probable pitchers: Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.13 ERA) vs Tylor Megill (3-2, 1.74 ERA)
DraftKings moneyline: Mets -142, Cardinals +120
DraftKings total: 7.5 (over -118, under -102)
Let’s Play Two
The St. Louis Cardinals will play their third doubleheader of the season today when they play a pair of games with the New York Mets at Busch Stadium. Yesterday’s game was rained out after the Mets took the series opener 9-3 on Friday.
The Redbirds swept a twin bill earlier this week in Cincinnati, and they lost both games of a doubleheader last month in Boston. Of those four games, two went over the total, one went under, and there was one push.
Game 1 Preview
Erick Fedde will get the nod for the Cards in Game 1. The right-hander was crushed for 7 runs on 10 hits in 5.2 innings in his last start against the Brewers. Fedde has registered just 17 strikeouts with 16 walks in his 32.2 innings this season.
The Mets are giving the opportunity to Blade Tidwell to make his big league debut as their Game 1 starter. Tidwell is a 23-year-old right-hander and the 15th-ranked prospect in the Mets’ system. He has made 6 starts at Triple-A Syracuse this season, going 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 27 innings.
Game 2 Preview
Andre Pallante will start the nightcap for the Cardinals. He is coming off a much needed quality start after getting hit pretty hard in his previous two outings. Pallante suffered the loss against these Mets back on April 17th, as he allowed 4 runs in 6 innings with just 2 strikeouts.
Saturday’s originally scheduled starter Tylor Megill will be on the mound for the Mets in Game 2. The right-hander has been outstanding to begin the season with a 1.74 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 31 innings.
My Leans
I don’t usually like betting doubleheaders because there is too much unknown with funky lineups and unpredictable bullpen usage. I made the mistake of forcing a pick in the first game of Wednesday’s doubleheader at Cincinnati and it lost, so I’m going to stick with my instincts and sit these two games out.
If forced to make picks, I would take the over in Game 1. Fedde’s underlying numbers are pretty ugly and Tidwell has an ERA of 5 at Triple-A this season. The Mets have a great offense, and there is no reason the Cardinals shouldn’t put up several runs against Tidwell (he’s not a soft-tossing lefty after all).
And I would go with the Mets -1 in Game 2. Pallante has me nervous with a 6.06 ERA over his last 3 starts with just 7 strikeouts in 16.1 innings. All that contact allowed is not a good recipe for success. And Megill appears to be legit, as he has been good in all six of his starts this season.
Lean for Game 1: Over 8.5 at -118 on DraftKings
Lean for Game 2: Mets -1 at -115 on DraftKings
Eric Sontag hosts Domesticated Gamblers every Friday on the Sports Hub STL YouTube channel. Follow him on X @GamblingDads, and click here for his daily picks on all of our St. Louis area sports teams. Picks = betting the game - minus odds betting to win 1 unit, plus odds risking 1 unit. Leans = no strong opinion, not betting the game. Disclaimer