St. Louis at New York

The Mets have gotten some borrowed innings out of Fernando Nieve who has pitched rather well, but the truth is he couldn't make it in Houston and has bounced around the minor leagues for a decade.  Even at AA this year he had an ERA around five, but the Mets are desperate and need to utilize his services. Brad Thompson has certainly shown more at the big league level and his less than four ERA this season isn't his first.  He has had two other seasons accomplishing the same and is 21-13 for his career, the Cards are 7-0 in his last seven starts on four days rest, 20-8 in his last 28 starts and an impressive 18-6 when the total is 9-10.5. The Mets are having trouble closing out a series as they are 7-19 in game three in their last 26. Rather go to bat or the mound in this case, with a pitcher that has a much better pedigree than Nieve and the Mets bats are struggling to boot. Cards get the call here.