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By Jeff Wilson

The National League Championship Series starts tonight with the St. Louis Cardinals at the NY Mets. The Mets showed why they are the NL’s best team when they swept the Dodgers 3-0 in the first round. The Cardinals beat the Padres, 3-1 in their series.

Today’s pitching match-up is the Mets' Tom Glavine (15-7, 3.82 ERA) versus St. Louis’ Jeff Weaver (8-14, 5.76 ERA).

Glavine is the ace of the staff with Pedro Martinez out for the playoffs with an injury. In his playoff start against the Dodgers, Glavine threw six shutout innings in a 4-1 win, showing that the 40 year-old has plenty left in the tank.

Weaver is a journeyman pitcher with talent that exceeds that moniker. Since coming over to the Cardinals in a trade with the Angles, he is 5-4, with a 5.18 ERA. Weaver’s playoff start against San Diego was five innings pitched with no runs allowed, and he got the win.

New York is heavily favored at -172 tonight.

This series is a match-up of two of the better hitting teams in the NL. The Mets have the feel of an American League line-up as they have great depth throughout the order. The Cardinals still have Albert Pujols at maximum power, but Scott Rolen will be less than 100% due to a sore shoulder. That means New York is more likely to pitch around Pujols whenever possible.

Edge: Mets

The Mets starting rotation is in shambles with Martinez out, and Orlando Hernandez also shelved with a calf injury. That means their other starters are Steve Trachsel, John Maine, and Pirates cast-off, Oliver Perez.

St. Louis really only has one pitcher they can count on in Chris Carpenter as Weaver, Jeff Suppan, Jason Marquis and Anthony Reyes do not scare anyone. Unfortunately, Carpenter pitched in the last game against San Diego on Sunday, which means he will not be available until Game 3.

Edge: Even

The Mets bullpen has Billy Wagner as the closer, and Aaron Heilman and others who join him in the late innings. St. Louis closer, Jason Isringhausen is out with an injury, and the Mets just have a big advantage in this area.

St. Louis Manager, Tony La Russa has taken St. Louis to three straight NLCS. He did make it to the World Series in 2004 before being swept by Boston. Of course, La Russa does have a World Series ring from his days in Oakland, but that is far removed.

Mets’ Manager Willie Randolph knows all about the World Series from his playing days with the Yankees. He will not be intimidated now as a manager, and he will lead New York accordingly.

Pick: Mets in Six

Editors Note: In the American League series, Detroit is up 1-0 and is -105 tonight. The pitching match-up is the Tigers’ Justin Verlander versus Oakland’s Esteban Loaiza.

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