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So far this season, Cardinals pitching has been a bit worse than last, and some concerning underlying numbers that suggest the possibility of an even steeper decline.

The Cardinals host the Mets on Sunday in a split doubleheader, with the first game at 12:15 p.m. and the second at 5:15 p.m.

The Cardinals lost Friday's opener 9-3, a franchise-record ninth straight defeat to the Mets. Saturday's game was rained out.

In the early game Sunday, right-hander Erick Fedde (1-3, 4.68) starts for the Cardinals. In his last outing, he gave up seven earned runs vs. Milwaukee, the most he's allowed since coming to the Cardinals at the trade deadline last season.

That game plus another earlier this season are Fedde's two worst outings since 2022, after which he was forced to spend a season in South Korea to reinvent himself.

The Mets will send out right-hander Blade Tidwell, the organization's 15th-ranked prospect, who will make his big-league debut in the early game.

The late game features Cardinals right-hander Andre Pallante (2-2, 4.13) vs. Mets rightyآ Tylor Megill (3-2, 1.74)

Pallante's ERA is a bit worse than last year, but his expected ERA, based on quality of contact allowed, is a full 1.2 runs worse than 2024.

The troubling expected pitching statistics are mirrored by the team as a whole.

Cardinals pitchers are producing far better stats than their expected batting average, expected slugging percentage and expected weighted on-base percentage allowed suggest. The Redbirds rank among the top three most fortunate teams in each.

Opponents are expected to hit .272 vs. the Cardinals, but they've only batted .244. Similar discrepancies exist in slugging percentage (.384 actual vs. .448 expected) and weighted on-base average (.307 actual vs. .340 expected).

The Mets are 22-11, tops in the NL East, while the Cardinals are 14-19, 6 1/2 games out of first in the NL Central.

Game 1 lineups

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar, RF

2. Alec Burleson, DH

3. Brendan Donovan, LF

4. Nolan Arenado, 3B

5. Willson Contreras, 1B

6. Nolan Gorman, 2B

7. Pedro Pagأ©s, C

8. Victor Scott II, CF

9. Jose Barrero, SS

P: Erick Fedde, RHP

METS

1. Francisco Lindor, SS

2. Juan Soto, RF

3. Pete Alonso,1B

4. Brandon Nimmo, DH

5. Jesse Winker, LF

6. Luis Torrens, C

7. Jeff McNeil, 2B

8. Luisangel Acuأ±a, 3B

9. Josأ© Azocar, CF

P: Blade Tidwell, RHP

Game 2 lineups

CARDINALS

1. Lars Nootbaar, LF

2. Masyn Winn, SS

3. Brendan Donovan, 2B

4. Nolan Arenado, 3B

5. Willson Contreras, DH

6. Alec Burleson, 1B

7. Yohel Pozo, C

8. Jordan Walker, RF

9. Victor Scott II, CF

P: Andre Pallante, RHP

METS

1. Francisco Lindor, SS

2. Juan Soto, DH

3. Pete Alonso, 1B

4. Brandon Nimmo, LF

5. Mark Vientos, 3B

6. Starling Marte, RF

7. Francisco Alvarez, C

8. Luisangel Acuأ±a, 2B

9. Tyrone Taylor, CF

P: Tylor Megill, RHP

Injury report

Ivan Herrera, C (bone bruise):آ A day after beginning his rehab assignment with a start at designated hitter for Class AAA Memphis, Herrera caught five innings for Memphis on Friday and collected two hits in three at-bats. Herrera is scheduled to be Memphis’s designated hitter Saturday as he continues his build-up. The Cardinals will look to have Herrera catch a full nine innings during his rehab assignment and potentially catch in back-to-back games before he is activated. How Herrera responds will factor in determining when he will be activated.آ Updated May 2

Zack Thompson, LHP (lat strain):آ Lefty is making steady strides on his throwing program back in Jupiter, Florida, but he's not yet advanced to the schedule that will resemble spring training. He is in the strengthening part of his rehab and has yet to throw a baseball as part of that. Repeated exams of the torn labrum that halted his spring training 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 May 1