Cardinals' Walker Surges, Mets' Bichette Struggles as Teams Clash

St. Louis looks to build on season-opening series win as New York visits for three games

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:22pm

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Jordan Walker and the St. Louis Cardinals will host the New York Mets for a three-game series, with Walker coming off an impressive start to the season and Bo Bichette struggling early for the Mets.

Why it matters

The Cardinals and Mets are both expected to contend in their respective divisions, so this early-season matchup could provide insight into how the teams stack up against each other. Walker's hot start is a positive sign for St. Louis, while Bichette's slow beginning raises questions about the Mets' lineup.

The details

The Cardinals took two of three games from the Tampa Bay Rays over the weekend, with Walker slugging a three-run homer among his three hits in Sunday's 11-7 loss. Walker, a 2020 first-round pick, is 4-for-10 with one homer, six runs, three RBIs, two doubles and two walks through three games. Meanwhile, Bichette is off to a 1-for-14 start with eight strikeouts for the Mets, who won their first two games against the Pittsburgh Pirates before losing 4-3 in 10 innings on Sunday.

  • The three-game series between the Cardinals and Mets begins on Monday, March 30, 2026.
  • The Cardinals took two of three games from the Tampa Bay Rays over the opening weekend of the season.

The players

Jordan Walker

A 23-year-old outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, who was a first-round pick in 2020 and is looking to improve his plate discipline after batting .215 with 126 strikeouts in 363 at-bats last season.

Bo Bichette

A two-time All-Star third baseman for the New York Mets, who is off to a 1-for-14 start with eight strikeouts in the team's first three games.

Oliver Marmol

The manager of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Carlos Mendoza

The manager of the New York Mets.

Francisco Lindor

An infielder for the New York Mets who expressed confidence that the Citi Field crowd will soon be cheering for Bo Bichette.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like his swings have looked better and his approach has been better. Then you look at (Sunday's) results, and that's a really, really good day. I'm proud of the work being put in and him just continuing to stay locked into the process and not letting some of the noise and results affect his day-to-day work.”

— Oliver Marmol, Manager, St. Louis Cardinals

“It's nice that the effort that I put in during the offseason showed (Sunday). I've been trying to keep my head clear, and this is a day that I can come back to like a blueprint.”

— Jordan Walker

“He is missing good pitches early in counts, and then they are making him chase, especially at the top of the zone. He is going to swing. He is going to go out there, and he is going to hack. He is a good hitter.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Manager, New York Mets

“He's one of the best hitters in the game. He's going to have a lot of big moments for us.”

— Francisco Lindor

What’s next

The Cardinals and Mets will continue their three-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the winner of the series gaining an early advantage in the race for playoff positioning.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Cardinals and Mets will provide an intriguing look at two of the National League's top contenders, with Jordan Walker's hot start for St. Louis contrasting with Bo Bichette's struggles for New York. The outcome of the series could set the tone for the rest of the season for both teams.