Lance Lynn is one of the best pitchers to start the 2014 season, but that should be no surprise to the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitcher has a habit of starting new years with strong play and 2014 is no different. Currently undefeated at 4-0, Lynn looks to become the first pitcher to get five wins in 2014. History speaks well for Lynn. He earned five straight wins in 2013 and recorded six wins to start 2012. Armed with a 3.42 ERA, he could do the same Thursday as the Cardinals target to split their series with the Mets.
In his past two starts, Lynn has one run and 16 strikeouts. However, against the Mets he is 0-1 in two starts. He gave up four runs and six walks in six innings. Last season he earned a 6-3 win after throwing 124 pitches and give up three runs. His 38 career wins in the past four seasons is the most by any Cardinal and many of those can be credited to fast starts.
Bartolo Colon could be off to a similar start if he could get some help from his teammates. The pitcher is currently 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA. He is getting a mere 2.88 average of run support in his past four outings. In his last three losses he has been supported with just four total runs. In his last start, he got one run while giving up three in seven innings to the Atlanta Braves.
Colon is undefeated against the Cardinals dating back to his time in Oakland. The pitcher is 2-0 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts, giving up just one run in eight innings the last time the two faced off. Colon simply needs the bats to start moving. The Mets have hit .175 with nine runs over a stretch where they won three of four games. Curtis Granderson is only hitting .125 after finally snapping a career-worst hitless stretch with 22 at-bats.