The Cincinnati Reds return to Great American Ball Park on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, for a 6:40 PM ET showdown against the St. Louis Cardinals. Chase Burns gets the ball for Cincinnati, squaring off against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore in what shapes up as a compelling NL Central matchup. With the regular season in its final stretch, every game in the division carries real weight, and this one is no exception. Catch it on Reds.TV or listen live on WLW 700 AM.
Pitching Matchup: Chase Burns vs. Matthew Liberatore
Chase Burns takes center stage for the Reds. The young right-hander has been one of the more closely watched arms in Cincinnati's rotation, and outings at Great American Ball Park give the home crowd a chance to see what he's made of under pressure. Burns will need to command the strike zone and keep the Cardinals' lineup off-balance to give the Reds a strong chance at a W.
Opposing him is Matthew Liberatore, a left-handed starter who has worked to establish himself in St. Louis's pitching staff. Liberatore presents a different look than most Cincinnati hitters face on a nightly basis, and his ability to generate weak contact will be a storyline to track through the early innings.
Keys to Watch for the Cincinnati Reds
- Burns's command early: How Burns handles the first time through the Cardinals' order will likely set the tone. Getting ahead in counts and limiting walks is essential against a disciplined St. Louis lineup.
- Offensive production against a lefty: Reds hitters will need to adjust their approach against Liberatore. Squaring up left-handed pitching consistently has to be a priority if Cincinnati wants to put crooked numbers on the board at Great American Ball Park.
- Bullpen management: In a regular-season game with playoff positioning implications, how Cincinnati's manager deploys the bullpen in the middle and late innings could be the deciding factor if the game stays close.
- Cardinals' lineup discipline: St. Louis tends to grind at-bats. Burns will have to be sharp and efficient to avoid high pitch counts that force an early exit.
Game Prediction
This is the kind of mid-August divisional game that can quietly shift the standings. Burns has the ceiling to dominate, and pitching at home in front of a Great American Ball Park crowd should work in his favor. If he can get through five-plus innings with a lead intact, the Reds have the roster depth to close it out. Expect a competitive, low-scoring game decided in the sixth inning or later.
Prediction: Reds 4, Cardinals 2. Burns delivers a quality start, and Cincinnati takes care of business at home.
