The St. Louis Cardinals hit the road on Monday, August 17, 2026, traveling to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati for a 1:40 PM ET afternoon matchup against the Reds. It's an NL Central clash that carries genuine divisional weight — the kind of Monday afternoon game that can quietly shift the standings before the rest of the league notices. Probable pitchers for both sides have not been announced, so the Cardinals will need to be ready for whatever Cincinnati lines up on the mound. Catch the action on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 or on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.

Cardinals vs. Reds: NL Central Divisional Matchup Preview

With no confirmed starters on either side at this point, the strategic picture will come into sharper focus closer to first pitch. What we do know is the Reds are sending out a lineup that demands attention from the jump. Manager-level decisions around pitching will be critical, and the Cardinals' front office will need to make sure they're matching up intelligently against a Cincinnati batting order that has some real firepower.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup to Watch

The Reds have submitted their lineup, and it's a group the Cardinals cannot afford to take lightly. Elly De La Cruz leads off at shortstop, and his combination of speed and power at the top of the order creates problems for any pitching staff from the first pitch. Sal Stewart slides into the two-hole at first base, followed by catcher Tyler Stephenson hitting third — a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat behind the plate.

Eugenio Suárez sits fourth as the designated hitter, bringing power and experience to the heart of the Cincinnati order. Dane Myers handles center field and bats fifth, while Michael Toglia lines up in left field at six. Matt McLain takes the two-bag at second base and hits seventh, with Noelvi Marte in right field batting eighth. Ke'Bryan Hayes rounds out the order at third base in the nine-spot.

Keys to the Game for St. Louis

• Neutralize De La Cruz early. When the leadoff man has elite speed and pop, you cannot let him get on base and run freely. The Cardinals need to attack him with a plan and limit his impact on the basepaths.
• Handle the middle of the order. Stephenson and Suárez back-to-back in the three and four spots gives Cincinnati a legitimate run-producing core. St. Louis pitching must work carefully through that stretch without falling behind in counts.
• Keep the Cardinals lineup aggressive. Without a confirmed starter on Cincinnati's end, St. Louis hitters should come out attacking early in counts and not let an unannounced arm dictate the tempo of the game.
• Bullpen management matters. With no confirmed starter for St. Louis either, the Cardinals' bullpen depth and usage decisions could define how this one plays out in the late innings.

Prediction

Divisional afternoon games in August have a way of getting decided in the small moments — a stolen base from De La Cruz, a two-out RBI single, a timely strikeout. Without confirmed starters, there are real unknowns here. But the Cardinals have the lineup depth and the organizational pitching resources to compete in this spot. Expect a tight, competitive game. St. Louis takes a close one, 4-3, capitalizing on a mistake or two from Cincinnati's bullpen late.