First Pitch is scheduled for 7:45 PM ET
Venue: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri
TV: SNY, Cardinals.TV | Radio: Audacy Mets Radio WHSQ 880AM / 92.3 HD2 (NYM), KMOX 1120 / 99.1 FM (STL)
Game Overview
This early-season interleague series opener sends the visiting New York Mets (2-1, 3rd in NL East) on the road to face the host St. Louis Cardinals (2-1, 2nd in NL Central) at Busch Stadium. The Mets opened with a strong 2-1 home series against the Pirates (including an 11-7 Opening Day win), while the Cardinals have shown early resilience in their first three contests. This marks the first 2026 meeting between the clubs, with St. Louis hosting the three-game set.
Recent Team Forms
Mets (2-1): New York posted an explosive 11-7 win on Opening Day and took a marathon extra-inning victory before dropping the series finale 4-3 in 10 innings. Offense has shown early pop (led by Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, and Luis Robert Jr.), but the bullpen was taxed; they’re 2-1 straight up at home to start the year and now hit the road.
Cardinals (2-1): St. Louis has looked competitive early with solid run production and pitching depth in limited action. They’re 2-1 SU after a mixed opening stretch (including a high-scoring loss in the finale) and will lean on home-field momentum in this series opener.
Probable Pitchers & Player Matchups
Mets: RHP Clay Holmes (0-0, strong relief-to-starter transition profile) vs. Cardinals: RHP Kyle Leahy (0-0, ~4.00-ish early metrics)
Holmes, converted to a starting role with elite command and a sinker-slider-cutter arsenal, brings high-leverage experience but limited big-league starts. He’ll face a Cardinals lineup featuring Nolan Gorman (3B), Jordan Walker (RF), Pedro Pages (C), and young contributors like JJ Wetherholt (INF) and Masyn Winn (SS).
Leahy relies on a fastball-slider-changeup mix to induce weak contact and ground balls. He’ll square off against the Mets’ star-studded core, including Juan Soto (LF/DH), Francisco Lindor (SS), Luis Robert Jr. (CF), and emerging bats like Brett Baty and Carson Benge.
Key matchup edges: Holmes’ strike-throwing and swing-and-miss vs. St. Louis’ patient, power-oriented approach; Leahy’s contact management against New York’s disciplined, high-OBP lineup. Expect a competitive, potentially low-scoring game with Busch’s neutral-to-slightly pitcher-friendly dimensions in play.
Injury Report
Mets
A.J. Minter (RP): 15-Day IL (left lat surgery) – out until early May.
Dedniel Núñez (RP): 60-Day IL (elbow/Tommy John).
Tylor Megill (SP): 60-Day IL (elbow/Tommy John).
Justin Hagenman (SP): 60-Day IL (rib fracture).
Mike Tauchman (OF): OUT (left meniscus tear) – out until mid-May.
New York’s bullpen and rotation depth are tested early, relying on call-ups and high-leverage arms.
Cardinals
Hunter Dobbins (SP): 15-Day IL (knee) – out until early April.
Lars Nootbaar (LF): 60-Day IL (heels) – out until late May.
Additional depth arms noted on short-term IL. St. Louis is thin in the outfield and rotation but has promoted young talent to cover. No changes expected for today’s active roster.
Series History
The Mets hold a recent edge, winning 5-2 in the 2025 season series. All-time, the clubs have been competitive, but New York has performed well on the road in recent interleague play. This is the 2026 opener of the three-game set at Busch Stadium.
Weather Updates
Game-time conditions at Busch Stadium: ~81–84°F, mostly clear skies, wind 12–14 mph (south/southwest), humidity ~36–39%, precipitation chance ~1–10% (no delays expected). Unseasonably warm and ideal early-season baseball weather—comfortable temperatures with a light breeze that could play neutral-to-slightly hitter-friendly toward right/center but remains manageable.
Game Odds
New York Mets – 156
St. Louis Cardinals 8.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Sunday, March 29, 2026
