The Cincinnati Reds and the St. Louis Cardinals meet at Great American Ball Park on April 29, 2025, in a critical NL Central showdown where the Reds will look to continue building momentum while the Cardinals search desperately for stability after a rocky start to the season, with Cincinnati entering the game at an even 13–13 record and the Cardinals struggling at 12–15. The Reds have been significantly stronger at home this season, posting a respectable 7–5 record against the spread at Great American Ball Park, where they have leveraged their aggressive offensive style and improved pitching to protect their home turf, while the Cardinals have been disastrous on the road, managing only a 2–11 record away from Busch Stadium, a statistic that underscores their difficulties in adapting to opposing environments and maintaining consistent play under pressure. Cincinnati will send Brady Singer to the mound, a right-hander who has been a bright spot so far this season with a perfect 4–0 record, commanding the strike zone effectively and giving the Reds confidence every time he takes the ball, whereas the Cardinals counter with Miles Mikolas, a veteran who has struggled to find his form in 2025, coming into the matchup still searching for his first win and sporting an 0–2 record that reflects his issues with command and leaving too many pitches over the heart of the plate.

Offensively, the Reds have relied on the electric talents of Elly De La Cruz, who continues to grow into a dynamic force capable of changing games with his speed, power, and aggressive baserunning, while TJ Friedl has provided a steady presence at the top of the order, hitting .280 and setting the table consistently for the middle of the lineup. The Cardinals have leaned heavily on veterans Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt to keep their offense afloat, with Goldschmidt in particular having an excellent start, hitting .383 and proving to be one of the few consistent bright spots in an otherwise underperforming lineup, but overall, the Cardinals’ inability to produce timely hits and sustain rallies has cost them dearly, especially in close games. Pitching has been a clear divider between these two clubs, with Cincinnati posting a team ERA of 3.39 that ranks among the best in baseball, while the Cardinals’ staff has struggled both with command and run prevention, leaving them vulnerable when games tighten late. Defensively, Cincinnati has also been sharper, avoiding the costly mistakes that have plagued St. Louis in key moments, and the Reds’ ability to turn double plays and limit extra bases has been a subtle but important part of their success. Entering this matchup, the Reds are slight favorites, and they have every reason to be confident given their home-field edge, their superior pitching, and the psychological advantage of facing a Cardinals team that has not shown resilience on the road. For St. Louis, finding a way to slow Cincinnati’s attack early and getting a strong outing from Mikolas will be vital if they are to pull off an upset, but based on recent form, the Reds seem poised to exploit the Cardinals’ vulnerabilities and move above .500 with a crucial divisional win.