Cardinals Host Reds Looking to Keep Pace in NL Central, Wild Card Race
Fresh off a sweep of the Chicago White Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game set beginning Friday.
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The Cardinals (40-35) currently sit tied for second in the NL Central, five and a half games back of the division leading Chicago Cubs. The Reds (39-36) are just one game back of the Cardinals in fourth.
After going 19-8 in May, the Cardinals have fallen back to earth this month and are 7-10. Despite their struggles, St. Louis remains just a half game out of a wild card spot.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Andre Pallante (53) reacts as he walks off the fieldJeff Curry-Imagn Images
Friday, June 20, 6:15 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, Matrix Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol)
Probable starters:
Reds: Brady Singer (7-4, 4.34 ERA)
Cardinals: Andre Pallante (4-3, 4.83 ERA)
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Saturday, June 21, 1:15 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol)
Probable starters:
Reds: Wade Miley (1-0, 6.75 ERA)
Cardinals: Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.84 ERA)
Sunday, June 22, 1:15 p.m. CT
How to watch/listen: FanDuel Sports Network Midwest / KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM, WIJR AM 880 (En Espanol)
Probable starters:
Reds: Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.84 ERA)
Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (4-4, 4.35 ERA)
What to watch for:
1. Can Cardinals starters keep the Reds hitters at bay?
The Reds are 32-4 this season in games in which they've out-hit their opponents. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz is pacing the way for Cincinnati, slashing .263/.345/.481 with a team-leading 16 home runs and 50 RBIs. Cardinals starters Pallante, Gray and Mikolas will need limit De La Cruz and the Reds hitters if they want to take this pivotal three-game series.
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2. Which Andre Pallante shows up?
It's been a rough last three outings for Andre Pallante. He's allowed 18 hits and 13 runs over his last 14 and two-thirds innings. In his last start against Milwaukee on June 14, Pallante, who has the highest ERA (4.83) among Cardinals starters, failed to complete five innings for the fifth time this season. Pallante will also need to limit the long ball. He's allowed 11 home runs this season, only three of which, however, have come at Busch Stadium.
3. Who will leadoff for the Redbirds?
Amid Lars Nootbaar's struggles at the plate, Oli Marmol continues to experiment with Shortstop Masyn Winn and second baseman Brendan Donovan in the lead off spot. Winn led off the front-end of Thursday's doubleheader, while Donovan led off game two. Despite going 0-for-5 yesterday in the second game, Donovan is batting .429 this season when hitting first. Winn just .111. Advantage Donovan.
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Related: Dodgers Named 'Dream Landing Spot' For Cardinals' Arenado
Related: Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt Talks Development, More in Exclusive Interview
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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