The Cincinnati Reds are back in Great American Ball Park on Friday night and will open a nine-game homestand beginning with their division rival St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, who sold at the trade deadline and seemed almost uninterested in ‘going for it’ for all of 2025, can actually mathematically pass the Reds in the standings this weekend if everything goes their way, a statement that’s a pretty decent indictment of how half-assed the Reds have been about ‘going for it’ in 2025 themselves.
Matthew Liberatore will start for the Cardinals. He’s a lefty, and lefties have thwarted the Reds offense so far this season to the tune of just a 75 wRC+, the worst mark in the majors outside of the Colorado Rockies (who barely exist).
Zack Littell will start for the Reds and try to allow negative one runs (or fewer) to give this offense an actual chance.
First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET. Lineups below!