The St. Louis Cardinals head to Great American Ball Park on Wednesday, August 19, for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch against the Cincinnati Reds. Matthew Liberatore gets the ball for St. Louis against Reds right-hander Chase Burns in what shapes up as a pivotal NL Central regular-season matchup. The Cardinals are on the road, which means no home crowd at Busch Stadium to lean on — they'll need to handle a Reds lineup built around one of the most dynamic leadoff hitters in the game.

Pitching Matchup: Liberatore vs. Burns

Matthew Liberatore draws the start for the Cardinals. The left-hander has shown flashes of his considerable potential throughout his career and a road start against a division rival is exactly the kind of outing that defines a pitcher's value to his club. The Cardinals need Liberatore to attack the strike zone and limit deep counts against a Reds lineup that has the firepower to make a starter pay for any lapses in command.

Chase Burns gets the nod for Cincinnati. The Reds hurler presents a genuine challenge for the Cardinals offense, and facing him at Great American Ball Park — where the Reds enjoy every home-field advantage — adds another layer of difficulty to the assignment.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup to Watch

The Reds are sending out a lineup that demands attention from the top of the order down. Elly De La Cruz leads off at shortstop and is the player the Cardinals simply cannot afford to let get loose on the bases. Sal Stewart bats second at first base, followed by Dane Myers in center field. Eugenio Suárez anchors the middle of the order at third base, and Tyler Stephenson slides into the DH spot batting fifth. Michael Toglia, JJ Bleday, Jose Trevino, and Matt McLain round out the bottom half.

Keys to the Game

• Contain De La Cruz early: If Liberatore and the Cardinals can keep De La Cruz off the bases in the first inning, St. Louis avoids the kind of momentum-shifting opening frames that can derail a road start in a hurry.
• Liberatore's command: The Cardinals' lefty needs to establish his fastball and work efficiently. A short outing puts added pressure on a Cardinals bullpen that has been tested throughout the season.
• Crack Burns early: The Cardinals' lineup must find a way to get to Burns before he settles in. Letting him cruise through the first few innings makes this a very long evening for St. Louis bats.
• Suárez as a threat: The veteran third baseman batting cleanup is a legitimate power concern. The Cardinals cannot fall asleep on him in a big spot.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for the Cardinals, but it requires Liberatore to deliver one of his better outings of the season. Road games against division opponents at a hitter-friendly park like Great American Ball Park demand a sharp performance from the starter. If Liberatore keeps the ball in the park and the Cardinals can push across runs early against Burns, St. Louis has the pieces to come away with a win. Expect a competitive, low-margin game that could go either way — but the Cardinals need the road victory. Cardinals 4, Reds 3.

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