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The Cardinals are treading water at 52-51, having dropped two straight and going just 3-7 over their last ten games. The Reds, meanwhile, have won three in a row and are 6-4 across their last ten, carrying genuine momentum into Busch Stadium. These are two teams pointed in opposite directions right now, and that tension makes this game worth watching.

Jordan Walker anchors the St. Louis offense with a .288 average, 22 home runs, and 77 RBI — numbers that put him among the more productive players in the NL Central. Alec Burleson adds depth at .281 with 15 home runs and 69 RBI. For Cincinnati, Sal Stewart has been a force with 21 home runs and 75 RBI, while Elly De La Cruz brings a different kind of threat — 56 runs scored and 18 stolen bases give him the ability to change a game without a hit.

On the mound, Dustin May takes the ball for St. Louis against Rhett Lowder for Cincinnati. May has struck out 103 batters this season; Lowder carries a 5.61 ERA but has shown flashes. The pitching matchup alone gives this game an interesting shape.

Cincinnati Reds at St. Louis Cardinals Game Information

Game Date: July 25, 2026
Game Time: 07:15 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

St. Louis sits 12 games back in the NL Central, where the Brewers have built a commanding lead. The Cardinals are running out of room to absorb losing stretches — a 3-7 mark over their last ten games is the kind of slide that turns a difficult deficit into an impossible one. Cincinnati is 15.5 games back and facing similar math, but a three-game winning streak gives the Reds something to build on. Neither team can afford to cede ground to the other in the broader wild card picture, making each game in this stretch carry real weight.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 52-51
Home Record: 26-28
Away Record: 26-23
Division Record: 15-14
Streak: 2 Loss streak
Winning Percentage: .505

Cincinnati Reds Team Statistics and Rankings

Win-Loss Record: 48-54
Home Record: 22-28
Away Record: 26-26
Division Record: 7-22
Streak: 3 Win streak
Winning Percentage: .471

Stat Leaders

St. Louis Cardinals (52-51, #4 in division)

Batting Average Leader: Jordan Walker, 0.288
RBI Leader: Jordan Walker, 77 RBI
Home Run Leader: Jordan Walker, 22 HR
Runs Leader: Jordan Walker, 65 Runs
Hits Leader: Jordan Walker, 112 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, 10 W
Saves Leader: Riley O’Brien, 26 SV

Cincinnati Reds (48-54, #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, 98 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

Jordan Walker is the player to watch on the St. Louis side. His 22 home runs and 77 RBI represent the kind of production that keeps a lineup dangerous even when the team is struggling, and at .288 he’s making consistent contact. JJ Wetherholt has also been a factor — his 15 home runs, 64 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases give him a well-rounded profile, and he delivered the decisive blow in St. Louis’s most recent win with a solo home run.

For Cincinnati, Sal Stewart’s 21 home runs and 75 RBI make him the offensive centerpiece, while Elly De La Cruz continues to create problems on the bases with 18 stolen bases and 56 runs scored. De La Cruz also went deep in Cincinnati’s most recent outing, a sign he’s locked in at the plate as well.

The pitching matchup carries its own intrigue. Dustin May has 103 strikeouts on the season, giving St. Louis a legitimate arm capable of shutting down a hot lineup. Lowder’s 5.61 ERA suggests Cincinnati will need its offense to stay active, but the Reds have shown over their current winning streak that they can generate runs when it counts. Pedro Pagés is listed as day-to-day with an illness, which could affect St. Louis’s catching situation.

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.
Pedro Pagés – Illness (Day-to-Day) – Pages is not in the lineup for Friday’s (Jul. 24) game against Cincinnati.
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 25, 2026 vs Cincinnati Reds
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

Cincinnati Reds Upcoming 2026 Schedule

July 25, 2026 at St. Louis Cardinals
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

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