New York at St. Louis

The team that everyone said wasn't that good is now one win away from the World Series. The Cards starting pitching, mediocre throughout the year (with the exception of Chris Carpenter), has stepped up when it matters. Jeff Weaver pitched a gem last night and that combined with Suppan's great outing on Saturday, has put the Cards in the driver's seat. The Mets are in trouble. Tonight they face the one pitcher that has done it all year for St. Louis. And, if they get past this one, they have no one of substance to start in game seven. But, I don't think this goes to a seventh game. Carpenter has a 3.15 ERA on the season and in the playoffs he's allowed 8 runs in 18.3 innings. John Maine hasn't fared so well. In his last two starts he hasn't made it past the middle of the fifth inning. I think there's a lot of pressure on Maine and the Mets and this position is not familiar to them. It is very familiar to the Cardinals and to Carpenter. I like the experienced Cardinals who will be much more lose and who have their ace and reigning Cy Yound Award winner on the mound.