Cardinals vs Reds Prediction 8/20/26 MLB Picks Today

In this article, we will formulate a Cardinals vs Reds Prediction for this MLB matchup on Thursday, August 20^th in the fifth game of this series. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.

Cincinnati Reds Preview

The Cincinnati Reds have a 61-66 record this season and are sitting in 5th place in the NL Central. They have a 32-35 home record and are coming off a 5-4 home win against the Cardinals. They will face the Diamondbacks and the Giants next.

The Cincinnati Reds have a .226 batting average this season, a .305 OBP, and a .391 slugging percentage. The Reds’ pitching staff has a 4.48 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds with a .259 batting average. Sal Stewart leads the team in RBI with 94 and adds a team-high 27 home runs.

Brady Singer (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Reds, and he has a 5-11 record, a 4.66 ERA, and a 1.44 WHIP.

St. Louis Cardinals Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals have a 65-63 record this season and are sitting in 3rd place in the NL Central. They have a 33-29 road record and are coming off a 4-5 road loss against the Reds. They will face the Phillies and the Orioles next.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a .241 batting average this season, a .317 OBP, and a .382 slugging percentage. The Cardinals’ pitching staff has a 4.01 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Alec Burleson leads the Cardinals with a .289 batting average and a team-high 92 RBI, while Jordan Walker adds a team-high 25 home runs.

Michael McGreevy (R) is the projected starting pitcher for the Cardinals, and he has a 5-9 record, a 3.48 ERA, and a 1.22 WHIP.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Cincinnati Reds Betting Trends: August 20, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Brady Singer      Record this season: 5-11      ERA: 4.66
• Home Record: 3-5
• Last 5 against Cardinals: 2-3

Why the Cincinnati Reds will win

• The Cardinals have lost 11 of their last 13 games as road favorites against NL Central opponents.
• The Reds have won five of their last seven games as home underdogs against the Cardinals.
• The Cardinals have failed to cover the run line in each of their last 13 Thursday games as road favorites against National League opponents.
• The Reds have covered the run line in nine of their last 10 games as home underdogs against the Cardinals.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael McGreevy      Record this season: 5-9      ERA: 3.48
• Road Record: 3-5
• Last 5 against Reds: 2-0

Why the St. Louis Cardinals will win

• The Cardinals have won each of their last six games following a loss.
• The Reds have lost eight of their last nine games against National League opponents following a home win.
• The Reds have failed to cover the run line in each of their last nine games following a win.
• The Cardinals have covered the run line in each of their last eight games against National League opponents following a road loss.
• The Cardinals have won the first inning in each of their last three day games.
• The Cardinals have led after 3 innings in each of their last four day games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
• The Cardinals have led after 5 innings in each of their last six games.

Total Runs Facts

• Six of the Reds’ last seven games as underdogs against National League opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Five of the Cardinals’ last six games as favorites against the Reds have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• There has been at least one run scored in the first inning in each of Michael McGreevy’s last eight appearances as a starter.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in each of Brady Singer’s last five appearances as a starter.

Cincinnati Reds Player Prop Facts

• Tyler Stephenson has hit a home run in four of the Reds’ last six day games.
• Brady Singer has recorded five or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight appearances with the Reds as underdogs against NL opponents.
• Sal Stewart has recorded at least one hit in each of the Reds’ last 17 games against NL Central opponents that held a winning record.

St. Louis Cardinals Player Prop Facts

• Alec Burleson has hit a home run in two of the Cardinals’ last three day games.
• Michael McGreevy has recorded a win in five of his last six road appearances against NL opponents that held a losing record.
• Michael McGreevy has recorded five or more strikeouts in four of his last five appearances against NL Central opponents.
• Nathan Church has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 appearances after playing the previous day.
• Alec Burleson ranks T6th in the league in Hits (140) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Reds rank 30th in the league for hits this season (951).
• The Reds rank 30th in the league for batting average this season (.226).
• The Cardinals rank T3rd in the league for home runs allowed this season (125).
• The Cardinals rank 4th in the league for strikeouts against this season (993).

Cardinals vs Reds Prediction

Both teams are tied 4-4 in their last 8 meetings and are 2-2 in their last 4 meetings in Cincinnati.

In this Cardinals vs Reds Prediction, the Cardinals are coming as -115 road favorites. I don’t like the pitching in this matchup as both starters have 5+ expected ERA and have been in bad form lately. Singer has given up 3+ runs in each of his last five starts and McGreevy 3+ runs in three of his last five. The Reds have the 6^th-worst bullpen ERA in baseball and two of their last three meetings in this series had at least nine total runs. Take the over 9 in this one.