The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals renew their NL Central rivalry on Thursday, August 20, 2026, at Great American Ball Park, with first pitch set for 12:40 PM ET. Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati opposite St. Louis right-hander Michael McGreevy in what figures to be a pitching-driven afternoon game. Both clubs are squarely in the thick of the regular season grind, making every divisional game carry real weight. Fans can catch the action on Reds.TV or listen locally on WLW 700.

Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer vs. Michael McGreevy

Singer is the clear headliner on the mound today. The right-hander has been a key piece of Cincinnati's rotation and brings a power arm capable of racking up strikeouts against a Cardinals lineup that is leaning heavily on youth. McGreevy, meanwhile, is a young St. Louis starter still working to establish himself at the big-league level. Neither pitcher's current stats are in hand, but the edge in experience and track record on this stage likely tilts toward Singer at home.

Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup

• 1. Elly De La Cruz — DH
• 2. Sal Stewart — 2B
• 3. JJ Bleday — LF
• 4. Tyler Stephenson — C
• 5. Matt McLain — SS
• 6. Michael Toglia — 1B
• 7. Dane Myers — CF
• 8. Héctor Rodríguez — RF
• 9. Ke'Bryan Hayes — 3B

St. Louis Cardinals Starting Lineup

• 1. JJ Wetherholt — SS
• 2. Iván Herrera — DH
• 3. Alec Burleson — 1B
• 4. Jordan Walker — RF
• 5. Joshua Báez — LF
• 6. Nathan Church — CF
• 7. Bryan Torres — 2B
• 8. Blaze Jordan — 3B
• 9. Jimmy Crooks — C

Keys to Watch for the Reds

Elly De La Cruz at the Top

De La Cruz leads off and slots in at DH, which is worth noting. When he is locked in, he can change the entire complexion of a game before the opposing starter settles in. A strong first inning from him sets the table for the middle of the order in a hurry.

Stephenson and McLain as the Heart of the Order

Tyler Stephenson batting cleanup and Matt McLain hitting fifth gives Cincinnati a legitimate run-producing core. If Bleday can get on base ahead of them, the Reds have real upside in the middle innings against a younger Cardinals pitching staff.

Singer Keeping the Cardinals Young Guns Quiet

St. Louis is running out a lineup with several players still carving out their big-league identities — Wetherholt, Báez, Church, and Blaze Jordan among them. Singer's ability to exploit inexperience with sharp sequencing and velocity will be the defining factor on the mound today.

Prediction

Great American Ball Park in the afternoon with a motivated home crowd and Brady Singer on the hill is a formula Cincinnati knows well. The Cardinals lineup presents some real athleticism, particularly with Jordan Walker in the cleanup spot, so Singer cannot cruise on autopilot. But with De La Cruz, Stephenson, and McLain capable of doing damage against a still-developing McGreevy, the Reds offense should generate enough to win this one. Reds 5, Cardinals 3.