ST. LOUIS -- A rainout of the NLCS opener meant the first five games would be played without a day off. It also left Mets lefty Tom Glavine and the Cardinals' Jeff Weaver scheduled to start on three days' rest in Game Five tonight.

The 40-year-old Glavine has plenty of experience, some good and some not so good. Weaver, 30, has no experience but the advantage of youth and late-season momentum.

Glavine is 8-6 with a 3.53 E.R.A. in 25 regular-season starts on short rest, although he's 2-5 with a 6.75 E.R.A. in seven postseason starts without full rest. Weaver has never done it, but regarded it as a minor inconvenience.

"I've been pretty fortunate to have a resilient arm and pretty loose," Weaver said.

Mets manager Willie Randolph minimizes Glavine's postseason struggles on three days' rest.

"That can be overrated sometimes," Randolph said. "It's a different time of the year and Tommy is strong and fresh and ready to go.

"This time of year, three days' rest, all the money on the line, it's not a big deal."

Glavine's most recent start on short rest was June 7 at Los Angeles, when he allowed seven hits -- including three homers -- and six runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 9-7 win.

"I guess I understand how to make the subtle changes I need to make in order to prepare for a short rest," Glavine said. "But 99 percent of it depends on how you feel, and I feel good, so hopefully that will be a big plus on my side."

Weaver will be leaning on his late-season surge in Game Five. He has had strong efforts in both postseason starts, allowing two runs in 10 2/3 innings.

Backyard ball

Backyard batting practice sessions with a father who played on a World Series winner and wanted his son to do it, too, prepared Scott Spiezio for the postseason lift he's giving the Cardinals.

Spiezio started five positions as an all-purpose backup during the regular season and he keeps giving manager Tony La Russa reasons to find a spot for him in the lineup. Entering Game Four of the NLCS, Spiezio had four RBI with extra-base hits over a two-game span.

His two-run bases-loaded triple tied Game Two in the seventh, and his two-run triple in the first inning of Game Three helped the Cardinals jump on the Mets early in a 5-0 victory.

Overall, Spiezio was an amazing 15-for-22 in the playoffs. Ed Spiezio, a journeyman who played eight seasons in the majors and was on the 1964 Cardinals championship team, was a driving force.

"When we'd take batting practice he'd always end it with a Game Seven situation: bottom of the ninth, two outs, 3-2 count and here's the pitch. What are you going to do with it?" Spiezio said. "If I made an out, we'd do it over and over.

"And when I'd finally get that hit he'd say OK, you won the World Series, you won the ring."

Sticking with Valentin

Mets second baseman Jose Valentin entered Game Four batting .105 (2-for-19) in the playoffs without an RBI or an extra-base hit.

But Randolph stayed with Valentin, leaving him in the lineup to bat seventh instead of turning to Chris Woodward or Anderson Hernandez at second.

"He got a hit [in Game Three]," Randolph said, "and hopefully that's going to turn the corner for him. He's been playing great defense for us and he's one of those kind of guys who can always step up for you at any point in time."