Cards Look to Keep Rolling in New York in Game Two at Citi Field
The Cardinal Chronicle
Cardinals Look to Keep Rolling in Game Two at Citi Field
St. Louis, MO
By Ray Mileur
The Cardinals opened their series in New York with the kind of road win that travels well.
Now comes the follow-up.
After beating the Mets 7-0 Tuesday night at Citi Field, St. Louis returns Wednesday looking to secure the series and extend a winning streak that has started to give this club a different feel. The Cardinals have won five straight, and Tuesday’s opener was one of their cleaner efforts of the season — strong starting pitching, timely offense, sharp defense and a bullpen that finished the job without drama.
That is the formula. No mystery. No graduate-level baseball seminar required.
Dustin May set the tone in the opener, working six shutout innings while allowing just four hits. He struck out six, walked one and gave the Cardinals exactly what they needed against a Mets club trying to protect its home field. Justin Bruihl and Matt Svanson handled the final three innings, completing St. Louis’ third shutout of the season.
The offense did its part early and kept adding on.
JJ Wetherholt delivered a two-run single during a four-run third inning, Jordan Walker added an RBI double, and Alec Burleson continued to swing one of the steadier bats in the lineup. Burleson hit a two-run homer in the fifth and added an RBI double in the seventh, giving the Cardinals the kind of middle-order production that turns a good start into a comfortable win.
Iván Herrera also stayed right in the middle of things, reaching base five times and scoring three runs. That is not just filling out a box score. That is controlling at-bats, extending innings and helping the lineup keep pressure on the opponent.
Nathan Church made his first game as the club’s new everyday center fielder count as well, collecting three hits and adding a terrific basket catch in center. For a Cardinals team that has had to adjust its outfield picture, Church gave them exactly the kind of first impression they needed.
Now the Cardinals turn to Andre Pallante in Game Two.
Pallante enters Wednesday at 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA, and his assignment is straightforward: pound the zone, keep the ball on the ground, and avoid giving the Mets extra baserunners. Citi Field can suppress some damage, but New York still has enough talent to punish mistakes, especially if pitchers fall behind and start working from the middle of the plate.
This is the kind of start where Pallante does not have to chase perfection. He needs efficiency. He needs early-count strikes. He needs to make the Mets earn everything. When Pallante is right, he can frustrate hitters with movement, contact management and the ability to get ground balls in key spots. When he is not right, traffic builds quickly.
The Mets are expected to counter with right-hander Austin Warren, who comes in at 1-2 with a 2.01 ERA. New York’s pitching plans have had some moving parts, but regardless of who takes the mound, the Cardinals’ approach should not change much from Tuesday. Be patient, force the starter into the zone, and keep pressure on a Mets club that has had trouble generating consistent offense.
New York was shut out Tuesday and never found the swing that changed the game. The Mets had a few chances, but the Cardinals’ pitching and defense kept them from turning small opportunities into serious threats. That will be harder to repeat if St. Louis starts handing out free passes or gives New York extra outs.
The Cardinals should expect a response.
That is usually how the second game of a series works after a lopsided opener. The Mets are home, they have pride, and they will not want to let St. Louis come into Citi Field and take the series in the first two nights. Francisco Álvarez is back in the Mets’ picture, Juan Soto remains a hitter who changes the way pitchers have to work, and Bo Bichette has been swinging the bat well enough to command attention.
For St. Louis, the key is staying boring in the best possible way.
Get a competitive start from Pallante. Keep the at-bats long. Make the Mets work for every out. Let Wetherholt, Walker, Burleson and Herrera continue to carry the offensive tone. Let Church settle into center field. Keep the bullpen from being overextended before Thursday’s afternoon finale.
The Cardinals are not just trying to win another game Wednesday. They are trying to stack another series win, keep their road momentum alive and continue strengthening their place in the National League race.
Tuesday night was clean.
Wednesday is about proving it can carry over.
Game Info
Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals at New York Mets
When: Wednesday, June 10, 2026
First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET / 6:10 p.m. CT
Where: Citi Field, Flushing, New York
Probable Pitchers: RHP Andre Pallante vs. RHP Austin Warren
Broadcast: Cardinals.TV / KMOX; Mets coverage on SNY
The Cardinal Chronicle, in association with Gateway Sports
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Photo Credit: Andre Pallante, St. Louis Cardinals | New York Times