Mets vs. Cardinals prediction and odds for Thursday, Aug. 17 (Bet on fireworks)

Two teams that were in the postseason last season, but are primed to miss it this year start a weekend series in St. Louis.

The New York Mets travel to Busch Stadium to face the St. Louis Cardinals as the team continues to search for optimism in the stretch run of the season.

The offense will get a reprieve on Thursday against Adam Wainwright, one of the worst pitchers in baseball this season. However, the Cardinals may be equipped to hit Jose Quintana, who has been one of the bright pieces of the Mets rotation this season in limited usage.

Here are the odds for Thursday's matchup:

Mets vs. Cardinals odds, run line and total

Mets vs. Cardinals prediction and pick

Wainwright's numbers are a disaster. He is allowing more than 15 hits per nine innings, posting an ERA of 8.48 and allowing nearly two home runs per nine innings.

The Mets offense should have little issue getting to the Cardinals veteran righty, and the team is backed by a bottom 10 bullpen in terms of ERA.

However, I can't take the Mets as road favorites with some concerns on the mound as well.

Quintana has looked the part since missing the first half of the season, pitching to a 3.03 ERA that is supported by a 2.93 Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP). However, I'm counting on some natural regression against a Cardinals lineup that is top 10 in the bigs against lefties in terms of batting average and OPS.

While Quintana has shined so far, he hasn't allowed a home run yet, he is due for some setbacks and long balls and the Cardinals are the team to pounce.

The Mets will get plenty of runs across against Wainwright, but the Cards should as well.

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.