St Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Prediction, Preview and Odds - 08/18/2026

Game Time: 6:40 pm ET, Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Venue:  Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH

Where to Watch:  MLB TV

DraftKings:  Moneyline odds:  Cardinals -115, Reds -105; Over/Under:  9 runs

Bet365:  Moneyline odds:  Cardinals -115, Reds -105; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

BetMGM:  Moneyline odds:  Cardinals -115, Reds -105; Over/Under:  8.5 runs

St Louis Cardinals:  63-61 (3rd place, NL Central)

Cincinnati Reds:  59-64 (5th place, NL Central)

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St Louis Cardinals:  7-3 last 10

Cincinnati Reds:  4-6 last 10

The Cardinals are entering this series off a win and won their 3-game series against the Chicago Cubs 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 63-61 record overall and have a road record of 31-27. This is the 3rd game of a 5-game series with the Reds on Tuesday with the series opener and the 2nd game still to be played on Monday in a double-header. Their offense ranks 24th in the MLB with a .699 OPS. Andre Pallante is one of their starting pitchers on Monday while Kyle Leahy is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 9-4 with a 3.38 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season appearance, he allowed 1 ER, 0 HR, and 0 BB with 6 SO on 6 hits through 5 IP against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Reds are entering this series off a loss and lost their 3-game series against the Miami Marlins 2-1 in their last series. They enter this game with a 59-64 record overall and have a home record of 30-33. This is the 3rd game of a 5-game series with the Cardinals on Tuesday with the 1st game and the 2nd game of this series still to be played on Monday in a double-header. Their offense ranks 24th in the MLB with a .699 OPS. Rhett Lowder is one of their starting pitchers on Monday while Andrew Abbott is making his start in this game on Tuesday. He is 6-7 with a 4.13 ERA this season. His team won their last 2 straight games this season with him making an appearance. In his last MLB regular season start, he allowed 5 earned runs, 0 homers, and 3 walks with 3 strikeouts on 7 hits through 4.1 innings pitched against the Chicago White Sox.

The current betting odds have the Cardinals listed as a slight favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Cardinals have looked good in their games this season with their 63-61 record overall which has them right in the middle of the NL Central. They have been a better road team too with their 31-27 road record this year. Meanwhile, the Reds haven't looked good in their games this season with their 59-64 record overall which has them right at the bottom of the NL Central. They haven't looked great in their own ballpark either with their 30-33 home record this season. The Reds just lost a series to the Marlins and they haven't looked great lately, now 4-6 in their last 10 games. They are running into a red hot Cardinals team that just won their last series against the Cubs and have been rolling lately, now 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Cardinals are fighting for that last Wild Card spot in the NL and they are going to have the better pitching matchup in this one. Leahy is on the mound for the Cardinals in this one and he has looked good this season. He is 9-4 with a 3.38 ERA and the team has been having a lot more success with him lately. They have won 2 games in a row now with him starting and he is coming off another good start giving up 1 earned run which has been a common theme for him lately. The Reds are going with Abbott in this one and he hasn't looked great this season. He is 6-7 with a 4.13 ERA and lately he has been giving up quite a few runs. The team has still been having success with him, winning 2 games in a row now with him starting, but he did give up 5 earned runs in his last start and that is starting to become a common theme for him. The Cardinals are the hotter team right now with a better chance at the last Wild Card spot, so look for them to take advantage of this pitching matchup and keep rolling. The best way to place a bet here is on the Cardinals to win this game. 

Cardinals Reds Prediction:  Our MLB Pick for Tuesday, August 18, 2026 (6:40 pm ET start time) is Cardinals 6 Reds 3.

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St Louis Cardinals: 115-101 (+14.3 units) on the moneyline when the total is 8 to 8.5. 69-58 (+12.3 units) on the moneyline against left-handed starters. 80-64 (+9.4 units) on the moneyline vs. a team with a poor bullpen whose ERA is 4.20 or worse. 39-18 UNDER when the total is 8 to 8.5.

Cincinnati Reds: 218-230 (-6.4 units) on the moneyline in all games. 113-111 (-14.8 units) on the moneyline in home games. 125-132 (-7.4 units) on the moneyline when the money line is +125 to -125. 16-10 UNDER as a home underdog of +100 or higher.

St Louis Cardinals:  M. Rajcic (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. R. Urias (3B) Sixty Day IL - Elbow.

Cincinnati Reds:  H. Greene (SP) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. B. Dunn (CF) Sixty Day IL - Elbow. S. Steer (1B) Ten Day IL - Wrist. T. Santillan (RP) Fifteen Day IL - Oblique. G. Ashcraft (RP) Sixty Day IL - Forearm. B. Williamson (SP) Sixty Day IL - Shoulder.

“That’s a big part of that game. Him being able to stay on that there and doing it early and driving in those two runs, and then Walker gets to take a shot.” - Oliver Marmol after his team’s win against the Cubs in their game on Sunday. 

“When a pitcher says, ‘I've had it,’ I'll never send them back out.” - Terry Francona on Nick Lodolo after his team’s loss against the Marlins in their game on Sunday. 

Joshua Báez (R) LF

Iván Herrera (R) DH

Jordan Walker (R) RF

Alec Burleson (L) 1B

José Fermín (R) 2B

Masyn Winn (R) SS

Blaze Jordan (R) 3B

Everson Pereira (R) CF

Pedro Pagés (R) C

Elly De La Cruz (S) SS

Sal Stewart (R) 1B

Tyler Stephenson (R) C

Eugenio Suárez (R) DH

Dane Myers (R) CF

Michael Toglia (S) LF

Matt McLain (R) 2B

Noelvi Marte (R) RF

Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B

Batting Average:  Joshua Báez (.333)

Hits:  Alec Burleson (135)

Home Runs:  Jordan Walker (24)

RBI:  Alec Burleson (90)

Stolen Bases:  Jordan Walker (16)

Wins:  Andre Pallante (12)

Saves:  Riley O'Brien (30)

ERA:  Ryan Fernandez (2.70)

Batting Average:  Blake Dunn (.282)

Hits:  Sal Stewart (121)

Home Runs:  Sal Stewart (26)

RBI:  Sal Stewart (91)

Stolen Bases:  Elly De La Cruz (21)

Wins:  Chase Burns (14)

Saves:  Emilio Pagán (15)

ERA:  Chase Burns (2.47)

Managers:

St Louis Cardinals: Oliver Marmol (5th season)

Cincinnati Reds: Terry Francona (2nd season)