At 1-8, the Cardinals' road start to their season has been historically bad. On Sunday, seeking to avoid a four-game sweep, the Cardinals send out their stopper.
St. Louis faces the New York Mets at 12:40 p.m. (St. Louis time) Sunday in the finale of a four-game set.
It would seem there's no better pitcher on the roster to stop a skid than right-hander Sonny Gray (3-0, 3.13).
Gray has already led the Cardinals to a pair of streak-snapping wins twice this season including, on April 8, putting an end to a season-worst four-game losing streak. That game, in which Gray went five innings and allowed one run at Pittsburgh, remains the Redbirds' lone road victory.
The last time the Cardinals started this poorly on the road, it was against a team that now plays in a different country, a team that now plays in a different league and a team that now plays under a different geographic designator.
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The began 1-8, dropping three at the Montreal Expos, three at the Houston Astros and two of three at the Florida Marlins.
With a minus-26 run differential on the road this season, the last time the team had a worse differential through the first nine road games was in 1919.
For the Mets, right-hander Clay Holmes (2-1, 3.66) takes the hill. He has a career 8.31 ERA vs. the Cardinals in 11 appearances, all in relief.
The Cardinals are 9-12 overall, the same record the Redbirds had at this point last season.
The Mets are 14-7 overall and 8-1 at home, tied with the Padres for fewest home losses in the National League.
St. Louis has never been swept in a four-game series in New York vs. the Mets, while the Mets have done so three times in St. Louis vs. the Redbirds.
The Cardinals haven't been swept in a four-game series since 2021 vs. Cincinnati.
Lineups
CARDINALS
1. Lars Nootbaar, LF
2. Thomas Saggese, SS
3. Brendan Donovan, 2B
4. Willson Contreras, DH
5. Alec Burleson, 1B
6. Jordan Walker, RF
7. Nolan Gorman, 3B
8. Pedro Pagés, C
9. Victor Scott II, CF
P: Sonny Gray, RHP
METS
1. Francisco Lindor, SS
2. Juan Soto, RF
3. Pete Alonso, 1B
4. Brandon Nimmo, LF
5. Jesse Winker, DH
6. Luisangel Acuña, 2B
7. Brett Baty, 3B
8. Tyrone Taylor, CF
9. Hayden Senger, C
P: Clay Holmes, RHP
Injury report
Nolan Arenado, 3B (bruised forearm): Third baseman was struck by a pitch Saturday and had some bruising. That was not the reason he's not in the lineup Sunday, the Cardinals manager said. Arenado was scheduled for a day off Sunday as the Cardinals cycle through off days for everyday players throughout the road trip. Updated April 20
Masyn Winn, SS (back spasms):Â Hit two home runs Saturday in his second of three planned rehab games with Class AAA Memphis. Winn is scheduled to play nine innings at shortstop Sunday and then join the Cardinals in Atlanta, where he'll be evaluated by the trainers. He's eligible to come off the injured list Tuesday. Updated April 20
Ivan Herrera, C (bone bruise):Â Continues to advance in workouts back in St. Louis and has started intensifying his baseball activities such as hitting. Updated April 20
Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain): Remained in Jupiter, Florida, to begin a throwing program after a month of limited activity and no throwing. Thompson went through multiple checkups and scans to monitor the healing of a tear in his lat on the left side, and they did not show any setback to delayed Thompson's scheduled move to the injured list. On April 7, Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL. Updated April 7
