The St. Louis Cardinals enter their June 21, 2025 matchup against the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium riding a four-game winning streak that has infused their clubhouse with renewed energy and optimism following a rocky start to the season. This recent surge has coincided with vastly improved pitching performances, including a six-inning shutout from Andre Pallante that served as a clear signal the Cardinals’ rotation may finally be rounding into form. Though their overall ATS record remains slightly below .500, St. Louis has shown marked improvement at home, particularly in divisional and interleague matchups, where their style of contact-driven, situational baseball thrives in the pitcher-friendly confines of Busch Stadium. Their resurgence has been anchored by a more stable bullpen, with late-inning relievers stepping up to protect leads more consistently, supported by clean defensive play that’s cut down on unearned runs and fielding miscues. On the offensive side, the Cardinals have embraced a fundamentally sound approach, opting for pressure through movement and patience rather than relying on big bats to win them games outright. Lars Nootbaar and Nolan Arenado have delivered clutch hits and long plate appearances, while Jordan Walker and Tommy Edman continue to provide versatility and spark from both sides of the plate.

Their ability to hit situationally—moving runners, laying down bunts, and stretching singles into doubles—has made them far more dangerous when facing power pitchers like Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott. The Cardinals’ success has also come from their ability to dictate the pace of the game, particularly at home where they are more aggressive early in counts and more deliberate in bullpen usage. Defensively, St. Louis has tightened its alignment and communication, helping them convert critical outs and kill rallies before they build. This cohesion has translated into improved late-game execution, a weakness earlier in the year that now appears to be a budding strength. At the core of this resurgence is the team’s rediscovered identity—one that values discipline, execution, and low-risk baseball, especially in tight, low-scoring environments. Facing a Cincinnati team that mirrors some of these same strengths, the Cardinals will need to stay one step ahead by capitalizing on any small mistakes and maximizing scoring chances through sharp baserunning and deep counts. Their bullpen, once a point of concern, now gives manager Oliver Marmol flexibility to mix and match based on matchups, and recent results suggest a growing confidence in high-leverage situations. If the Cardinals can continue executing their game plan—staying clean defensively, controlling the tempo through starting pitching, and executing offensively with runners in scoring position—they stand an excellent chance not only to extend their win streak but also to cover the run line. With Busch Stadium’s atmosphere intensifying during their current streak, and a lineup that now blends patience with timely contact, St. Louis is poised to maintain its upward trajectory against a Reds team that will test their resolve inning by inning.