The St. Louis Cardinals make the short trip down I-71 to face the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET from Great American Ball Park. Kyle Leahy gets the ball for St. Louis against Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott in a regular season NL Central matchup that carries real divisional weight. The Cardinals send out a lineup built around Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, and a young core that has been pushing for relevance all season. This one matters — division games always do.

Cardinals at Reds Starting Pitchers: Leahy vs. Abbott

Kyle Leahy draws the start for St. Louis in what projects as a significant test. Leahy has been part of the Cardinals rotation mix this season, and a strong performance in a division road game would go a long way toward establishing himself as a reliable arm down the stretch.

On the other side, Andrew Abbott is a name Cardinals hitters need to respect. The left-hander has given Cincinnati a legitimate weapon in the middle of their rotation, and Great American Ball Park — a hitter-friendly environment — does not always work against a pitcher who can locate and miss bats. St. Louis will need patient at-bats early to see what Abbott is working with on this particular night.

Cardinals Lineup: Who to Watch in Cincinnati

Manager Oli Marmol has the Cardinals going with a lineup that leans on experience and upside. JJ Wetherholt sets the table from the leadoff spot at second base, with Iván Herrera hitting second as the designated hitter. Jordan Walker slots in third — his power and athleticism in right field make him one of the more dangerous bats in this order. Alec Burleson anchors the cleanup spot at first base, and Joshua Báez brings left-handed pop to the five hole.

Blaze Jordan at third base hitting sixth is a name to watch. The power potential has always been the calling card for Jordan, and a ballpark that plays generous to right-handed hitters gives him an opportunity. Masyn Winn bats seventh at shortstop, bringing his athleticism and defensive reliability to the equation. José Fermín handles center field in the eight spot, and Pedro Pagés rounds out the order behind the plate.

Keys to the Game for St. Louis

• Leahy's command early: Road starts against division opponents set a tone. If Leahy can work efficiently through the first three innings and keep Elly De La Cruz and the top of Cincinnati's order off the bases, the Cardinals bullpen can work with a lead.
• Jordan Walker's at-bats against Abbott: Walker hitting third against a left-hander is a matchup worth monitoring. His ability to work counts and do damage in the middle innings could swing the game.
• Burleson in the cleanup spot: Alec Burleson has the build and the bat to punish pitchers who make mistakes in the zone. Great American Ball Park will reward solid contact to the pull side.
• De La Cruz containment: The Reds shortstop is one of the most electric players in the National League. Leahy needs a plan for him every time he steps in, because De La Cruz can hurt you in multiple ways — at the plate and on the bases.

Prediction: Cardinals 5, Reds 3

This is a winnable road game for St. Louis if Leahy gives the Cardinals length and the middle of the order delivers. Walker and Burleson are the keys. Expect a competitive, tight ballgame through six innings before the Cardinals bullpen closes it out. Cardinals take it 5-3. Catch the game on KMOX 1120 AM or Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365.