St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Betting Pick & Prediction for Game on 5/23

MLB game preview

The St. Louis Cardinals will play against the Cincinnati Reds in an MLB regular season game. The game will take place at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH. Scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2026, the first pitch is set for 7:15 PM, and fans can watch it on FOX.

The Cardinals have a record of 28-21 and rank third in the NL Central. They are coming off a two-game losing streak. The Reds, with a 26-24 record, are fourth in the same division and have won their last two games. The weather forecast calls for a mild day with light rain and a gentle breeze.

St. Louis Cardinals Team Preview

The St. Louis Cardinals have been struggling recently. They have lost four of their last five games. In their most recent game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, they lost 6-2. Dustin May pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out seven batters.

In the 2026 season, the Cardinals’ batting average is .240, ranking 11th in the league. Their on-base percentage is also ranked 11th at .318. The team has hit 56 home runs, placing them in 11th place as well.

Pitching has been a challenge for the Cardinals, with a team ERA of 4.24, ranking 21st. The batting average against them is .256, also ranking 21st. Kyle Leahy, with a 5-3 record and a 3.94 ERA, is expected to start in their next game.

Cardinals vs Reds Game Day Info

  • Sport: MLB
  • Teams: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Reds
  • Venue: Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, OH
  • Date: Saturday, May 23, 2026
  • Betting Odds: Cardinals Moneyline -109, Reds Moneyline -111, Cardinals Runline -1.5 (+148), Reds Runline +1.5 (-181), Total Over 9.5 (-107), Total Under 9.5 (-114)

Cincinnati Reds Team Preview

The Cincinnati Reds are coming off a strong win against the Philadelphia Phillies. In their last game on May 20th, they scored nine runs with 15 hits. Sal Stewart had a standout performance with a home run and four hits.

Chase Petty is set to start for the Reds in their next game. He has a 4.76 ERA with one strikeout this season. This will be an opportunity for Petty to make a mark in his first decision.

The Reds’ hitting lineup features Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart, who have been consistent performers. De La Cruz is hitting .290 with 11 home runs, while Stewart has a .265 average with 12 home runs. The team ranks 9th in slugging percentage, showing their power at the plate.

BTB Betting Pick

The Cardinals are slightly favored with a moneyline of -109, while the Reds are at -111. Both teams have similar odds, but the Cardinals have a better pitching staff with an ERA of 4.24 compared to the Reds’ 4.73. Given this edge in pitching, the recommendation is to pick the Cardinals to win.

The total for the game is set at 9.5 runs, with the over at -107 and the under at -114. The Cardinals and Reds have shown moderate offensive capabilities, with batting averages of .240 and .229, respectively. With both teams having pitching challenges, the projected score is Cardinals 5, Reds 4, suggesting a pick on the over.