After a 1-2 week, the St. Louis Cardinals start the new week with a 44-47 record. The Cardinals are in third place in the National League Central, and 6.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. The Cardinals are 2 back of the Chicago Cubs for second place. If the National League Wildcard is in the picture, the Cardinals start Monday 7.5 games behind the Colorado Rockies, and 8.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cardinals enter Monday with an 18-23 record. St. Louis plays 7 games this week, all on the road:

Monday July 17, 2017, 6:10pm CT
Adam Wainwright (10-5, 5.20) vs. Zack Wheeler (3-6, 4.86)
Notes: Adam Wainwright has won his last three starts.
During his last three starts, Wainwright has struck out 23 batters in 18 innings.
Wainwright has seen the Mets bat .261 lifetime against him.
Jay Bruce is 13-44 with 3HR against Wainwright.
Zack Wheeler us 21-22 in his career.
Wheeler has not won a start since May 20th.
The Cardinals are 8-25 career against Wheeler, which is a .320 average.

Tuesday July 18, 2017, 6:10pm CT
Michael Wacha (6-3, 4.10) vs. Rafael Montero (1-5, 5.77)
Notes: Wacha has won his last three starts.
Wacha has struck out 23 batters in his last 17.2 innings.
The Mets are 11-72 lifetime off Wacha, with 2HR
Montero is making his 5th start of the season.
Montero pitched July 8th against the Cardinals, and allowed a hit and run in 2/3inning.
Montero’s only win of the season came on June 25th in San Francisco.
The Cardinals are 3-6 lifetime against Montero.

Wednesday July 19, 2017, 6:00pm CT – ESPN
Mike Leake (7-6, 3.14) vs. Jacob DeGrom (10-3, 3.48)
Notes: Leake is 79-71 in his career.
Leake is coming off a no decision in Pittsburgh, pitching 5 innings.
Leake’s last win was on June 30th over the Nationals.
The Mets are 33-122 lifetime against Leake for a .270.
Lucas Duda is a career 6-8, 2HR off Leake.
DeGrom is 40-25, 2.89 in his career.
DeGrom has won his last 6 starts.
In those six starts, DeGrom has gone 7+ every game, including 8+ 4 times.
DeGrom has struck out 47 batters in last 6 starts.
The Cardinals are 19-58 lifetime off DeGrom for a .328.
The Cardinals have taken Jacob DeGrom deep 7 times in their career.

Thursday July 20, 2017, 11:10am CT
Lance Lynn (8-6, 3.40 vs. Seth Lugo (4-2)
Notes: Lynn is 69-45 in his career.
Lynn has won his last two starts.
Lynn has struggled against Jay Bruce. Bruce is 15-36, 3HR lifetime.
Lugo is making his 7th start of the 2017 season.
Lugo is coming off a win over the Rockies on Saturday.
The Cardinals are just 4-20 career against Lugo.

Friday July 21, 2017, 1:20pm CT
Carlos Martinez (6-8, 3.36) vs. Jake Arrieta (9-7, 4.17)
Notes: Martinez has not won a start since June 16th at Baltimore.
Martinez has struck out 45 batters over his last 7 starts.
Martinez was one of two Cardinals All Stars.
Arrieta is coming off a win on the road at Baltimore.
Arreita has 105 strikeouts in 108 innings.

Saturday July 22, 2017, 3:05pm CT
Adam Wainwright (10-5) vs. Jose Quintana (5-8, 4.20)
Notes: Wainwright makes Monday’s start for the Cardinals.
Quintana is coming off his season debut with the Cubs.
In that start, Quintana struck out 12 batters.
The Cardinals are 8-25 lifetime against Quintana.
Dexter Fowler is 4-8 lifetime against Quintana.

Sunday July 23, 2017, 7:00pm CT – ESPN
Michael Wacha (6-3) vs. Jon Lester (5-6)
Notes: Wacha makes Tuesday’s start for St. Louis.
Lester makes Monday’s start for Atlanta.