The New York Mets will open a critical three-game set in St. Louis tonight to face the Cardinals in a battle that will certainly have ramifications on the Wild Card race, as well as the Mets season. Here are a few things to know ahead of tonight’s game.

• The St. Louis Cardinals currently hold the second Wild Card position in the National League. The Mets are currently 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot.

• This is the second meeting between both clubs this season. The Mets dropped two of three (including splitting a doubleheader) to the Cardinals back at Citi Field on July 26-27.

• Yoenis Cespedes holds a .340 average against the Cardinals in 12 career games played. It’s his second highest average against any National League opponent with a minimum of 51 plate appearances.

• Despite his recent struggles Curtis Granderson is a Cardinals killer, as he owns a .356 batting average and a .446 on-base percentage in 28 games played against the Cardinals. Both numbers are his highest against any opponent in baseball.

• The Mets will activate infielder T.J. Rivera and right-handed pitcher Robert Gsellman from Triple-A prior to tonight’s game. Steven Matz will be placed on the 15-day DL, while Neil Walker will be placed on the paternity list.

• The Cardinals lead the National League with 173 home runs. The Mets rank third with 162.

• Former Mets farmhand Matt Bowman was selected by the Cardinals in the 2015 Rule-5 Draft and has carved out a role in the Cardinals bullpen. The 25-year old right-hander has a 3.38 ERA in 53.1 innings pitched.

• Starting pitcher Adam Wainwright who still leaves a sour taste in Mets fans mouths is having the worst statistical season of his career as he holds a 4.71 ERA in 25 starts. Wainwright holds a career 5.17 ERA in ten career appearances (eight starts) against the Mets. It’s his worst ERA against any National League opponent and second worst against any opponent in baseball with a minimum of two appearances.

• Another player who leaves a sour taste in Mets fans mouths, catcher Yadier Molina holds a a career .308 average against the Mets.

• Cardinals southpaw Jaime Garcia holds a career ERA of 1.58 against the Mets in six starts. It’s his second lowest ERA against any opponent with more than one career start.

• Cardinals ace Carlos Martinez holds a career 1.31 ERA in six career appearances (3 starts) against the Mets. It’s his second lowest ERA against any opponent with a minimum of two starts.

• Pitching matchups for the three-game series are provided below:

• Tuesday: LHP Jonathon Niese (8-7, 5.30) vs. LHP Jaime Garcia (10-8, 4.11)
• Wednesday: RHP Jacob deGrom (7-6, 2.73) vs. RHP Carlos Martinez (11-7, 3.24)
• Thursday: RHP Seth Lugo (0-2, 3.04) vs. RHP Adam Wainwright (9-7, 4.71)