The Cincinnati Reds host the St. Louis Cardinals at Great American Ball Park on Monday, August 17, 2026, with first pitch scheduled for 1:40 PM ET. This NL Central rivalry game carries genuine weight in the regular season standings, and the Reds will look to use the home crowd to their advantage in an afternoon clash broadcast on Reds.TV and WLW 700. Probable pitchers for both sides have not been announced, which adds an extra layer of intrigue heading into game day.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup for Monday's Game Against St. Louis

Manager David Bell has set a lineup that leans on the Reds' core. Elly De La Cruz leads off at shortstop, the role that best suits his explosive skillset and ability to impact a game from the first at-bat. Sal Stewart slots in at first base and bats second, followed by catcher Tyler Stephenson hitting third — a spot that reflects the trust the organization has placed in him as a run-producer.

Eugenio Suárez gets the designated hitter assignment and bats cleanup, giving the lineup a right-handed power presence in the middle of the order. Dane Myers handles center field from the five hole, with Michael Toglia in left field batting sixth. Matt McLain returns to the two-hole area of the order at second base batting seventh, while Noelvi Marte starts in right field batting eighth. Ke'Bryan Hayes rounds out the order at third base.

Keys to Watch in Reds vs. Cardinals

• De La Cruz at the top: When Elly De La Cruz is locked in from the leadoff spot, he changes the entire complexion of an inning. His speed and power combination puts pressure on opposing pitchers and defenses from pitch one.
• Suárez in the cleanup role: Eugenio Suárez as DH in the four hole gives Cincinnati a proven bat in a high-leverage spot. How the Cardinals' pitching staff pitches around — or to — him will shape the middle innings.
• Starting pitching TBD: With no probable pitchers confirmed for either side, the bullpen management decisions could be a major factor. Watch for early lineup adjustments if an opener is deployed.
• Marte and McLain producing in the lower third: The back end of this lineup has real upside. If Myers, McLain, Marte, and Hayes can generate traffic and runs, it takes pressure off the middle of the order.
• Cardinals lineup unknown: St. Louis has not released its lineup as of this writing. That uncertainty makes it harder to game-plan, but the Reds know this rivalry well enough to adjust.

Broadcast Information

Monday's game can be seen on Reds.TV and Cardinals.TV Presented by bet365. Radio coverage is available on WLW 700 locally and KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM for Cardinals fans.

Prediction

This is the kind of August afternoon game at Great American Ball Park where the Reds' lineup depth can wear down an opponent. The Cardinals rivalry never lacks for competitiveness, and without confirmed starters on either side, the game could turn on bullpen performance and situational hitting. De La Cruz and Suárez are the names to watch. Give the edge to Cincinnati at home: Reds 5, Cardinals 3.