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Two NL Central teams with fading postseason math but genuine competitive fire meet in St. Louis, where the Cardinals need to arrest a troubling stretch and the Reds are riding a current of momentum that has made them dangerous company. Cincinnati has gone 5-5 over its last ten games and enters having won its most recent outing, while St. Louis has stumbled to a 3-7 mark over the same span — a stretch that has made every home game feel more urgent.

Jordan Walker is the Cardinals’ most compelling offensive presence, hitting .290 with 22 home runs and 77 RBI, numbers that put him among the more productive hitters in the division. On the other side, Sal Stewart has been a consistent run producer for Cincinnati, with 21 home runs and 75 RBI, and Elly De La Cruz brings a different kind of threat — 18 stolen bases and 56 runs scored, the kind of speed that can unravel a defense before the pitcher even winds up.

Alec Burleson adds another dimension for St. Louis at .285 with 15 home runs and 70 RBI, giving the Cardinals a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence to pair with Walker. This is a game where both offenses have the personnel to take over.

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Game Information

Game Date: July 26, 2026
Game Time: 02:15 PM ET
TV Channel: St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, and MLB.TV – St. Louis Cardinals
Location: Busch Stadium, St. Louis, MO
Live Stream: Fubo (free trial)

Game Preview

The Cardinals hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series, a margin that carries weight as these clubs have now faced each other seven times. St. Louis sits 12 games back in the NL Central, where Milwaukee has built a commanding lead, and a 3-7 stretch over the last ten games has done nothing to close that gap. Cincinnati is 16.5 games back and facing similarly steep math, but the Reds have been notably better away from home — 26-27 on the road compared to 22-28 at Great American Ball Park — which makes Busch Stadium a reasonable venue for them.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 53-51
Home Record: 27-28
Away Record: 26-23
Division Record: 16-14
Streak: 1 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .510

Cincinnati Reds Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 48-55
Home Record: 22-28
Away Record: 26-27
Division Record: 7-23
Streak: 1 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .466

Stat Leaders

St. Louis Cardinals (53-51, #3 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Jordan Walker, 0.290
RBI Leader: Jordan Walker, 77 RBI
Home Run Leader: Jordan Walker, 22 HR
Runs Leader: JJ Wetherholt, 66 Runs
Hits Leader: Jordan Walker, 114 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Jordan Walker, 14 SB
ERA Leader: Ryan Fernandez, 2.70 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Dustin May, 103 K
Wins Leader: Andre Pallante, 11 W
Saves Leader: Riley O’Brien, 26 SV

Cincinnati Reds (48-55, #5 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Blake Dunn, 0.282
RBI Leader: Sal Stewart, 75 RBI
Home Run Leader: Sal Stewart, 21 HR
Runs Leader: Elly De La Cruz, 56 Runs
Hits Leader: Sal Stewart, 99 Hits
Stolen Bases Leader: Elly De La Cruz, 18 SB
ERA Leader: Tejay Antone, 2.30 ERA
Strikeout Leader: Chase Burns, 124 K
Wins Leader: Chase Burns, 12 W
Saves Leader: Emilio Pagán, 10 SV

What to Watch For

Walker is the player Cardinals fans most want to see step up during a rough stretch. His .290 average, 22 home runs, and 77 RBI represent the kind of production St. Louis needs to lean on when the rotation is inconsistent. JJ Wetherholt has also been a spark, scoring 66 runs on the season, and his recent home run against the Angels showed he can deliver in low-scoring situations. Riley O’Brien anchors the back of the bullpen with 26 saves, giving St. Louis a reliable closer if the game stays close.

For Cincinnati, Eugenio Suárez delivered the decisive blow in the previous meeting — a two-run home run — and his 14 home runs and 39 RBI make him a genuine threat in the middle of the order. Chase Burns leads the Reds’ rotation with 12 wins and 124 strikeouts, and if he takes the ball, St. Louis will need to work counts carefully. Tejay Antone out of the bullpen carries a 2.30 ERA, giving Cincinnati a high-leverage weapon late.

Lars Nootbaar is listed day-to-day with an illness, which could affect St. Louis’s outfield configuration and create an opportunity for someone further down the depth chart to make an impression.

St. Louis Cardinals Injury Report

Ramón Urías – Elbow (D60) – The St. Louis Cardinals transferred INF Ramón Urías to the 60-day injured list due to right elbow lateral epicondylitis.
Lars Nootbaar – Illness (Day-to-Day) – Nootbaar was removed early Saturday (Jul. 25) against the Reds because he was dehydrated and feeling lightheaded.
JoJo Romero – Appendix (D15) – The St. Louis Cardinals placed LHP JoJo Romero on the 15-day injured list with appendicitis.
Max Rajcic – Elbow (D60) – The St. Louis Cardinals transferred RHP Max Rajcic from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a right elbow soreness.

Cincinnati Reds Injury Report

Nick Lodolo – Finger (D15) – The Cincinnati Reds placed LHP Nick Lodolo on the 15-day injured list with blister left index finger.
Matt McLain – Calf (D10) – The Cincinnati Reds placed INF Matt McLain on the 10-day injured list with a strained calf.
Brandon Williamson – Shoulder (D60) – The Cincinnati Reds placed LHP Brandon Williamson to the 60-day injured list with left shoulder fatigue.
Graham Ashcraft – Forearm (D60) – The Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Graham Ashcraft on the 60-day injured list due to a sprained right forearm.
Blake Dunn – Elbow (D10) – The Cincinnati Reds placed OF Blake Dunn on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow sprain.
Tony Santillan – Oblique (D15) – The Cincinnati Reds placed RHP Tony Santillan on the 15-day injured list with an oblique strain.

St. Louis Cardinals Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 26, 2026 vs Cincinnati Reds
July 27, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 28, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 29, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 30, 2026 vs Chicago Cubs
July 31, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 01, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 02, 2026 at Toronto Blue Jays
August 03, 2026 at New York Yankees
August 04, 2026 at New York Yankees

Cincinnati Reds Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 26, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
July 27, 2026 vs Cleveland Guardians
July 28, 2026 vs Cleveland Guardians
July 29, 2026 vs Cleveland Guardians
July 30, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
July 31, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
August 01, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
August 02, 2026 vs Pittsburgh Pirates
August 04, 2026 vs Athletics
August 05, 2026 vs Athletics

Our game previews are produced programmatically using real-time data via Sportradar and AI writing tools. Articles are regularly reviewed for accuracy before publication.