St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Picks and Prediction for Thursday, August 20, 2026

The St. Louis Cardinals visit the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Great American Ball Park, with the first pitch at 12:40 PM ET. St. Louis is 65-62, third in the NL Central, and 33-28 on the road after a 3-0 win over Cincinnati in its most recent completed game. The Cardinals have won four of their last five games. Cincinnati is 60-66, fifth in the NL Central, and 31-35 at home after that loss. The Reds have dropped four of their last five. Be a winner with our free MLB picks.

St. Louis Cardinals Bring Strong Recent Form

St. Louis is batting .240 with a .316 on-base percentage and .382 slugging percentage while scoring 558 runs and hitting 131 home runs. Alec Burleson leads the Cardinals with 92 RBIs while batting .289 with a .354 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage. Jordan Walker is also batting .289, leads St. Louis with 24 home runs, and has 88 RBI. The Cardinals have scored 29 runs across their last five games, including 11 against Chicago on Sunday.

The Cardinals carry a 3.99 team ERA and 1.33 WHIP while opposing hitters are batting .251. St. Louis has recorded 979 strikeouts against 427 walks. The pitching staff has allowed 15 runs across the last five games, including only one Monday and none Tuesday against Cincinnati. St. Louis has held three of its last five opponents to three runs or fewer, giving the Cardinals stronger recent ERA as they prepare to close this series on the road.

Injuries: Ramon Urias (60-Day IL), Max Rajcic (60-Day IL).

Cincinnati Reds Look to End Recent Slide

Cincinnati is batting .226 with a .305 on-base percentage and .391 slugging percentage while scoring 509 runs and hitting 163 home runs. Sal Stewart leads the Reds with 26 home runs and 91 RBIs while batting .258. Elly De La Cruz is batting .259 with a .341 on-base percentage and .470 slugging percentage. Cincinnati has scored only 16 runs across its last five games, with the lineup held to one run or fewer in three contests during that stretch.

The Reds have a 4.48 team ERA and 1.40 WHIP while opponents are batting .246. Cincinnati has recorded 1,021 strikeouts but issued 519 walks, creating additional baserunners for opposing offenses. The Reds have allowed 26 runs across their last five games, although they have held St. Louis to 11 runs through the first three completed games of this series. Cincinnati’s larger problem has been supporting its pitching, with only seven runs scored against the Cardinals in those three games.

Injuries: Tony Santillan (15-Day IL), Brandon Williamson (60-Day IL), Graham Ashcraft (60-Day IL), Spencer Steer (10-Day IL), Blake Dunn (60-Day IL).

Pitching Matchup

St. Louis Cardinals – Michael McGreevy

McGreevy is 5-9 with a 3.48 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 132 innings. The right-hander has allowed 127 hits, 34 walks and 18 home runs while striking out 91. McGreevy faces a Cincinnati lineup batting .226 with a .305 on-base percentage and .391 slugging percentage. The Reds have considerable power with 163 home runs, but their recent scoring has been limited, including one run or fewer in three of their last five games.

Cincinnati Reds – Brady Singer

Singer is 5-11 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 125.2 innings. The right-hander has allowed 139 hits, 42 walks and 24 home runs while recording 104 strikeouts. Singer faces a St. Louis lineup batting .240 with a .316 on-base percentage and 131 home runs. The Cardinals have scored at least five runs in three of their last five games, and Singer’s higher WHIP gives St. Louis opportunities to put runners on base Thursday.

St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Game Pick

• St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis is the game pick behind the stronger starting pitcher and better recent form. McGreevy carries a 3.48 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, compared with Singer at a 4.66 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. The Cardinals have won four of five while scoring 29 runs during that stretch. Cincinnati has dropped four of five and scored only 16 runs. St. Louis also owns a winning road record, and its recent pitching against Cincinnati provides another reason to back the Cardinals on Thursday afternoon.

St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Over/Under Pick

• Under

The under is the total pick based on Cincinnati’s recent offensive struggles and McGreevy’s solid season numbers. The Reds have scored one run or fewer in three of their last five games, including Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis. McGreevy enters with a 3.48 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, giving the Cardinals a strong chance to limit Cincinnati again. Singer has struggled more, but St. Louis has also scored three runs or fewer twice in this series, supporting a lower-scoring game Thursday.