Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
First pitch: 6:40 p.m. EDT
TV: Cardinals.TV / Reds.TV (CINR, CARD)
Probable starters:
RHP Kyle Leahy (Cardinals, 9-4, 3.38 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 105 K in 117.1 IP) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (Reds, 6-7, 4.13 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 102 K in 133.0 IP).
This is the middle game of a five-game, four-day series (including Monday’s day-night doubleheader split). The Cardinals lead the 2026 season series 6-4 entering the night. St. Louis sits third in the NL Central (13.5 games behind Milwaukee); Cincinnati is fifth (tied with Pittsburgh at 17.0 GB).
Venue & Weather
Great American Ball Park (capacity ~45,800) is a hitter-friendly park, especially for left-handed power, with dimensions that reward fly balls to the gaps and short porch in right. Current forecast for first pitch: Partly cloudy/mostly sunny, ~80°F, light northwest winds around 5–7 mph, 0% chance of precipitation. Ideal conditions with no delay risk; temperatures drop into the mid-60s overnight.
Injury Reports
Cardinals:
3B Ramón Urías (60-day IL, elbow) – expected return ~Aug. 25.
RP Max Rajcic (60-day IL, elbow) – expected return ~Sept. 1.
(JoJo Romero previously noted with appendicitis issues earlier; status monitored but not listed as active IL in primary reports.)
Reds:
RP Tony Santillan (15-day IL, oblique) – expected ~Aug. 21 (rehab progressing).
SP Brandon Williamson (60-day IL, shoulder) – expected ~Aug. 21 (rehab).
RP Graham Ashcraft (60-day IL, elbow) – expected ~Aug. 31.
1B Spencer Steer (10-day IL, wrist) – expected ~Sept. 1.
OF Blake Dunn (60-day IL, elbow surgery) – out for 2026.
SP Hunter Greene (60-day IL, Tommy John) – out for season / into 2027–28.
Key absences thin the Reds’ bullpen depth and remove Steer’s production; Cardinals are relatively healthy in everyday positions.
Current Rosters / Key Contributors (Active Highlights)
Cardinals key players: 1B/OF Alec Burleson (strong year: ~21 HR, 92 RBI, .289 AVG range), RF Jordan Walker (hot recently; 13-for-38 with power in last 10), SS Masyn Winn, 2B JJ Wetherholt, C Iván Herrera / Pedro Pagés, OF Joshua Báez / Nathan Church / Everson Pereira, 3B Blaze Jordan. Rotation/bullpen anchors include Leahy, Andre Pallante, Matthew Liberatore, Michael McGreevy, and late-inning arms like Riley O’Brien.
Reds key players: SS Elly De La Cruz (speed/power threat; recent walk-off hero), 1B Sal Stewart (team-leading ~26 HR, 91 RBI), 3B/DH Eugenio Suárez (hot: 9-for-33 with 3 HR in last 10), C Tyler Stephenson, 2B Matt McLain, OF Dane Myers / TJ Friedl / JJ Bleday / Héctor Rodríguez / Noelvi Marte, 1B Michael Toglia. Rotation features Abbott, Chase Burns (elite ~2.47 ERA), Rhett Lowder, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo; bullpen led by Emilio Pagán.
Recent Team Forms
Cardinals (last 10: 6-4): Stronger recent stretch. Split Monday’s doubleheader (won Game 1 2-1 behind Quinn Mathews and the bullpen; lost Game 2 5-6 in 10 innings). Swept/won series vs. Cubs prior (including 11-4 and 8-4 wins). Team batting ~.257 and pitching 3.13 ERA in last 10; outscoring opponents by 16 runs. Solid road form (32-28).
Reds (last 10: 4-6): Struggling offensively (.189 AVG, outscored by 24 runs). Split the doubleheader after losses to Miami. Bullpen and timely hitting (Myers pinch-HR + De La Cruz walk-off) salvaged Monday night. Home record 31-34. Power still present (163 team HR), but contact and consistency lag.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups & Pitcher Notes
Leahy vs. Reds: Right-hander has been excellent of late (roughly 2.55 FIP over last five starts, strong control with low BB rates, limited HR damage). Previously faced Reds (e.g., 6 IP, 2 ER, 9 K on July 26). Favors inducing weak contact against a high-K, power-oriented Reds lineup. De La Cruz, Stewart, and Suárez are primary threats.
Abbott vs. Cardinals: Left-hander has mixed results; recent command issues (higher walk rates ~5+/9 at times). Allowed 2 ER in 6 IP vs. Cardinals on July 26 (Reds won that game). Cardinals have performed reasonably vs. lefties. Burleson (LHB), Walker, and Wetherholt key for St. Louis. Abbott’s home ERA trends higher.
Bullpens: Cardinals’ late arms (O’Brien, etc.) have been reliable; Reds rely on Pagán and others amid injuries.
Series History
Cardinals lead 2026 season series 6-4. Monday split: Cardinals 2-1 (Burleson two-run double, stout relief), Reds 6-5 in 10 (Myers HR, De La Cruz walk-off). Earlier meetings included low-scoring affairs and one Cardinals shutout. Historical rivalry is competitive; park factors and lefty-righty dynamics often decide individual games.
Betting Trends
Cardinals 50-70 to the Under season-long; stronger when scoring 5+. Reds 28-15 when hitting 2+ HR but cold recently (Under lean in many recent games). Season series Unders have been common (3-7 in reported H2H). Public lean has favored Cardinals ML (~60%+).
GAME ODDS
St. Louis Cardinals – 117
Cincinnati Reds 9
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Monday, August 17, 2026
