Game Details:
Matchup: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds
Date & Time: Friday, August 29, 2025 | 7:10 PM ET
Venue: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Betting Line: Reds -1.5 | Over/Under: 9.5
Key Storylines
NL Central Rivals Clash Again
The Cardinals and Reds are in the thick of the NL Central battle, and every game at this point in the season carries postseason implications. The Reds currently hold a narrow lead in the division standings and will look to protect home field against a surging Cardinals squad that has won 7 of its last 10.
Cardinals Catch Fire
After a sluggish first half, the Cardinals have turned their season around behind strong pitching and timely hitting. Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are heating up at the plate, while the team’s bullpen has been one of the best in the NL over the past month.
Reds Relying on Youth
Cincinnati continues to lean on its impressive crop of young talent. Rookie Elly De La Cruz has been electric all season, and his continued development will be crucial. Jonathan India and Spencer Steer have also provided consistent production from the top of the lineup.
Injury Report
- Cardinals: Lars Nootbaar (wrist) – Questionable, Tommy Edman (ankle) – Day-to-day
- Reds: Hunter Greene (forearm) – OUT, Noelvi Marte (suspension) – OUT
Betting Trends
- ATS: Cardinals 63-63 | Reds 66-60
- Over/Under: The total has gone over in 4 of the last 5 Cardinals games
- The Reds are 7-3 in their last 10 home games
Pitching Matchup
Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (9-10, 4.21 ERA)
Reds: Andrew Abbott (10-7, 3.98 ERA)
Mikolas has quietly been a stabilizing force for the Cardinals rotation, while Abbott continues to improve in his second MLB season. Both pitchers have a tendency to pitch to contact, which could make offense a factor tonight in hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park.
Player Prop to Watch
Nolan Arenado – Total Bases: 1.5
Arenado has a strong track record against lefties like Abbott and has been swinging a hot bat over the last two weeks. Expect him to be a key offensive contributor.
Prediction & Best Bets
- Spread: Cardinals +1.5 → St. Louis has been playing better baseball down the stretch and could keep this game close or pull off the upset.
- Total: Over 9.5 → With warm weather, a power-friendly ballpark, and two contact-prone pitchers, the over looks like solid value.
- Player Prop: Nolan Arenado Over 1.5 total bases → He’s in a groove and facing a favorable pitching matchup.
Expect a tightly contested NL Central battle with the Cardinals pushing the Reds to the limit. Cincinnati’s home crowd could be the difference maker, but all signs point to a high-scoring game.
Final Score Prediction: Reds 6, Cardinals 5