New York at St. Louis

The Mets can't hit and are a dismal 15-30 on the road. They got smoked yesterday here, a 12-2 rout, and turn their lonely eyes to lefty Jonathon Niese (5-8), with the team 3-7 his last 10 starts. He is 2-5 on the road, and St. Louis roasted him for eight runs on 11 hits in five innings of a 10-2 setback on May 19. The Mets are 4-9 following a loss. The St. Louis Cardinals are a major league-best 33-11 at Busch Stadium while winning 16 of their last 21 home meetings against the New York Mets. The Cardinals are 48-14 in their last 62 home games. Cardinals lefty Tim Cooney gets the nod and has pitched well in his last three outings, permitting six earned runs in 16+ innings. The Mets have never seen Cooney, who has kept the ball in the park in his each of his last two trips to the mound. The Mets are 17-38 in St. Louis, so grab home field. Play St. Louis.