It takes a certain ineptitude to lose a home series to the White Sox, who are 3-14 on the road. The Cardinals managed to pull off the feat this weekend.

Both the Mets and Cardinals have been disappointments. But I'd rather take a plus price with the Mets than back the Cardinals, who rank among the bottom-three in several important offensive categories. This includes home runs and runs.

St. Louis is 6-9 at home. The Mets are 7-8 on the road.

Sean Manaea goes for the Mets. He has a 3.07 ERA. The Cardinals have failed to score more than three runs in five of their last seven games.

The Cardinals are going with Kyle Gibson, who has a 3.79 ERA. Gibson is the poster child for mediocre journeymen. And that might be giving him too much credit.