The St. Louis Cardinals host the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Busch Stadium for a 2:15 PM ET first pitch. Kyle Leahy takes the ball for St. Louis against Cincinnati left-hander Andrew Abbott in what shapes up as an intriguing NL Central matchup. With division positioning always on the line against a familiar rival, this one carries real weight. Coverage is available locally on Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365 and on KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM.
Cardinals vs. Reds Pitching Matchup: Leahy vs. Abbott
Kyle Leahy gets the start for St. Louis. The Cardinals have been leaning on Leahy as part of their rotation mix this season, and Sunday gives him a prime opportunity to make a statement against a divisional opponent in front of the home crowd at Busch Stadium. How Leahy commands the strike zone and manages Cincinnati's lineup early will set the tone for the afternoon.
Andrew Abbott draws the assignment for the Reds. The left-hander has shown the ability to miss bats, and St. Louis hitters will need a disciplined approach to get to him. Abbott's arsenal can give right-handed hitters trouble, so look for the Cardinals to work counts and make him throw pitches deep into at-bats.
Three Keys to Watch Sunday
- Leahy's command: Walks will hurt against a Cincinnati lineup that can punish pitchers who fall behind in counts. Leahy needs to establish the strike zone early and keep the Reds from manufacturing runs on the basepaths.
- Cardinals offense vs. a left-hander: Abbott's angle from the left side can be tricky for St. Louis. Getting a strong showing from right-handed bats early in the lineup will be critical to building any kind of lead.
- Bullpen depth: Sunday afternoon games can grind. If Leahy doesn't go deep into the game, St. Louis will need contributions from the bullpen to bridge to the back end and close this one out.
Prediction
This is the kind of mid-summer NL Central game that can quietly define a stretch of the season. Busch Stadium gives the Cardinals a genuine home-field edge, and if Leahy can keep Cincinnati off the board through the middle innings, St. Louis has enough at the plate to grind out a win. The Cardinals take this one, 4-2.
