Cincinnati Reds vs St Louis Cardinals THE UNDERTAKER SERIES LIVE MLB Chatterbox Reds

Cincinnati Reds vs St Louis Cardinals THE UNDERTAKER SERIES LIVE MLB Chatterbox Reds

As the 2025 MLB regular season winds down to its final two weeks, the Cincinnati Reds (74-72) face off against the St. Louis Cardinals (73-77) in a pivotal three-game series opener at Busch Stadium. With both teams scrapping for the final National League Wild Card spot, this matchup carries extra weight in the tightly contested playoff race. The Reds, coming off a disheartening sweep by the Oakland Athletics that has pushed them to the brink of elimination, desperately need a win to stay alive. Meanwhile, the Cardinals, fresh from splitting a series with the Milwaukee Brewers, hold a slight 6-4 edge in the season series and aim to deliver a knockout blow to their divisional rivals.

The game, set for 7:45 p.m. ET, pits right-hander Zack Littell (9-8, 3.78 ERA) of the Reds against lefty Matthew Liberatore (7-12, 4.35 ERA) for St. Louis. Littell has been a steady presence in Cincinnati’s rotation, ranking 16th in the league with a 1.121 WHIP and showing poise against the Cardinals this year—allowing just three earned runs over seven innings in prior starts.

However, Liberatore’s struggles against right-handed heavy lineups could spell trouble; the Reds boast a .391 team slugging percentage (19th in MLB) and have slugged 146 home runs, led by Elly De La Cruz’s dynamic .263/.331/.433 line, 19 homers, and 82 RBIs.

De La Cruz’s speed and power make him a nightmare for lefties like Liberatore, who has a 4.35 ERA that balloons in high-pressure spots.On the Cardinals’ side, the offense has found its groove late in the season, averaging 4.3 runs per game (20th in MLB) with a patient approach—ninth-fewest strikeouts at 8.1 per contest.

Willson Contreras (.255/.342/.444, 20 HR, 79 RBIs) and Alec Burleson (.281/.332/.450, 17 HR) anchor the lineup, providing the pop needed to exploit Littell’s middling 6.3 K/9 rate. Nolan Arenado’s return from injury adds firepower; the third baseman’s presence was hyped on social media, with fans buzzing about his potential impact in this rivalry game.

St. Louis’s home-field advantage at Busch Stadium, where they’ve won 45 of 81 games, could tilt the scales in a contest implying a 53.7% Cardinals victory probability.

Betting odds reflect the close nature: Cardinals favored at -125 moneyline, Reds at +105, with a 8.5-run over/under slightly leaning under due to both pitchers’ ground-ball tendencies.

The Reds’ recent skid—three straight losses—has fans on edge, as seen in X posts lamenting their Wild Card fade, while Cardinals supporters eye a series sweep to bury Cincinnati’s hopes.

Key matchups include TJ Friedl (.261/.365/.373, 12 HR) versus Liberatore’s curveball and Contreras’s pull power against Littell’s sinker.This Battle of Ohio River rivals evokes classic NL Central intensity, where pride often trumps standings. For Cincinnati, a win keeps playoff dreams flickering; for St. Louis, it’s a step toward relevance. As the first pitch approaches, Busch Stadium will pulse with red-clad energy, promising a night of drama under the lights.