What happened: The New York Mets enter their upcoming series with the St. Louis Cardinals on the back of solid recent play. They went 4-2 on their most recent homestand before splitting a six-game road trip at 3-3, keeping their form steady heading into the matchup.

Why it matters: Consistent stretches like this matter in a long regular season, where avoiding extended slumps helps a club stay in the divisional and wild-card picture. Maintaining a winning or break-even pace across homestands and road trips is the kind of stability contending teams lean on through the summer.

What to watch: Watch how the Mets' rotation and lineup hold up against the Cardinals, and whether the recent momentum carries into a series win.