The Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals meet at Great American Ball Park on Thursday, August 20, 2026, with first pitch set for 12:40 PM ET. Brady Singer gets the ball for Cincinnati against Cardinals right-hander Michael McGreevy in what shapes up as a pivotal regular season divisional matchup between two NL Central rivals. Any game between the Reds and Cardinals carries weight — geography, history, and standings points all wrapped into one afternoon on the Ohio River. Catch it on Reds.TV or WLW 700 AM.
Starting Pitchers: Brady Singer vs. Michael McGreevy
Brady Singer draws the Thursday start for Cincinnati. Singer has been a key part of the Reds rotation, and the home crowd at Great American Ball Park will be looking to him to set the tone early and keep St. Louis's lineup in check. How Singer commands the strike zone and sequences his pitches against Cardinals hitters will go a long way toward determining how this afternoon unfolds.
For St. Louis, Michael McGreevy gets the nod. McGreevy is still working to establish himself as a reliable option in the Cardinals rotation, and facing a Cincinnati lineup at home is a genuine test. If the Reds can get to McGreevy early and make him work deep counts, Cincinnati's offense has a chance to do some real damage.
Keys to Watch in Reds vs. Cardinals
- Singer's command early: Great American Ball Park rewards pitchers who attack the zone. If Singer is sharp in the first two innings, he can set a tempo that the Reds defense can ride all afternoon.
- McGreevy's pitch efficiency: A young Cardinals starter facing a home crowd energized by a matinee atmosphere is a specific kind of pressure. The Reds need to work counts and make him earn every out.
- Divisional positioning: Every game against St. Louis in the regular season carries direct standings implications in the NL Central. There is no such thing as a throwaway game in this rivalry.
- Afternoon ball at GABP: Day games at Great American Ball Park play differently. Wind, shadows, and crowd energy all factor in. The team that adjusts faster tends to come out ahead.
Prediction: Reds Win a Tight One at Home
Home-field advantage is real in a divisional game, and Singer on the mound in front of a Thursday afternoon crowd gives Cincinnati a genuine edge. The Reds take this one, 4-2, with Singer working into the sixth inning and the offense doing enough against McGreevy to get the win. Great American Ball Park gets loud. Reds baseball is worth watching on Thursday.
