Venue: Busch Stadium
Location: 700 Clark Ave, St. Louis, Missouri
First Pitch: 1:15 PM CDT / 11:15 AM PDT
Surface: Natural grass — neutral‑to‑slightly pitcher‑friendly, especially in humid conditions.
Weather Forecast
Temperature: 89°F
Humidity: 67%
Wind: 9 mph SSW (blowing toward left‑center)
Sky: Mostly sunny Game Impact:
Warm, humid air boosts carry.
Slight advantage to right‑handed pull hitters.
Busch Stadium plays neutral overall, but July heat can elevate scoring.
Team Form & Context
Cincinnati Reds (48–55)
Recent Form: 4–6 in last 10
Road Record: Below average
Offense: Young, athletic lineup; streaky power
Pitching: Rotation inconsistent; bullpen volatile
Motivation: Must win to stay alive in NL Wild Card race
St. Louis Cardinals (53–51)
Recent Form: 6–4 in last 10
Home Record: Strong; lineup thrives at Busch
Offense: Balanced mix of veterans and emerging bats
Pitching: Rotation stabilizing; bullpen top‑10
Motivation: In NL Central race; home series vs. Reds is pivotal
Injury Reports
Cincinnati Reds
Matt McLain (SS): Day‑to‑day, hamstring tightness
Hunter Greene (RHP): 15‑day IL, shoulder fatigue
Nick Lodolo (LHP): Out, elbow rehab
Christian Encarnacion‑Strand (1B): Day‑to‑day, wrist soreness
St. Louis Cardinals
Nolan Arenado (3B): Day‑to‑day, back stiffness
Willson Contreras (C): 10‑day IL, forearm strain
Steven Matz (LHP): Out, elbow inflammation
Tommy Edman (UTIL): Day‑to‑day, ankle soreness
Pitching Breakdown
Andrew Abbott – LHP, Reds
2026 Form: Strong strikeout ability; inconsistent command
Last 3 Starts:
5.2 IP, 3 ER vs. MIL
6.0 IP, 1 ER vs. PIT
4.1 IP, 4 ER vs. CHC
Strengths: Good fastball/curveball combo; misses bats
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to right‑handed power; occasional walk issues
Matchup Outlook: Cardinals’ right‑handed core (Goldschmidt, O’Neill, Walker) is a tough assignment.
Gordon Leahy – RHP, Cardinals
2026 Form: Young arm with upside; improving command
Last 3 Starts:
5.0 IP, 2 ER vs. ARI
6.1 IP, 3 ER vs. MIA
4.2 IP, 4 ER vs. ATL
Strengths: Good slider; induces ground balls
Weaknesses: Vulnerable to left‑handed power
Matchup Outlook: Reds’ left‑handed bats (Friedl, Benson, Votto if active) present a challenge.
Key Player Matchups
Abbott vs. Cardinals’ Right‑Handed Core
Paul Goldschmidt: Elite vs. lefties; strong gap power
Jordan Walker: Massive power; crushes elevated fastballs
Tyler O’Neill: Pull‑side power; thrives vs. high‑spin fastballs Advantage: St. Louis
Leahy vs. Reds’ Left‑Handed Bats
TJ Friedl: High‑contact; strong vs. command pitchers
Jake Fraley: Good vs. RHP; strong OBP
Joey Votto (if active): Patient hitter; dangerous vs. young pitchers Advantage: Cincinnati
Bullpen Comparison
Reds: Volatile; Greene/Lodolo injuries increase pressure
Cardinals: Top‑10 ERA; strong leverage arms (Helsley, Gallegos) Advantage: St. Louis
Series History
Last three seasons: STL leads 20–15
At Busch Stadium: STL leads 11–7
Cardinals have won 5 of last 7 meetings.
Betting Trends
Cincinnati Reds
Road Underdog: 45% ATS
Road Overs: 54% (pitching inconsistency)
Abbott Starts: Reds 5–5 last 10
St. Louis Cardinals
Home Favorite: 59% ATS
Home Unders: 52%
Leahy Starts: Cardinals 6–4 last 10
Head‑to‑Head Totals
Overs: 6 of last 9
Cardinals ML: Won 7 of last 10
Game Odds
Cincinnati Reds 8.5
St. Louis Cardinals – 130
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Saturday, July 25, 2026
