Cincinnati Reds vs St. Louis Cardinals Picks and Predictions May 1st 2025

Cardinals vs Reds Game Preview: Can St. Louis Cap Off Turnaround in Cincinnati?

The St. Louis Cardinals started the week with one of the worst road records in baseball, but a doubleheader sweep on Wednesday has breathed new life into their season. Now, with momentum on their side, they’ll aim to secure their first road series victory of 2025 when they face the Cincinnati Reds in Thursday’s finale of a four-game set at Great American Ball Park.

With both teams trying to gain traction in the NL Central, this divisional matchup suddenly carries added weight.

To monitor real-time odds and pitcher props, check the latest lines on the MLB odds portal.

Cardinals Explode Offensively, End Road Drought

Entering Wednesday, the Cardinals had won just two of 14 road games. Then came the outburst—15 total runs, six home runs, and back-to-back blowout wins (6-0 and 9-1). The offensive breakout couldn’t have come at a better time.

Manager Oliver Marmol made a lineup shake-up ahead of the twin bill, and it paid off in a big way. Young shortstop Masyn Winn, slotted into the two-hole for the first time in his MLB career, responded by launching two solo home runs in Game 1 and adding two more hits in Game 2.

Catcher Willson Contreras, dropped to the middle of the order to help jumpstart his power game, answered the call with a three-run homer in the first inning of Game 2.

Marmol’s optimism seems to be translating to results.

“I really do believe Contreras and Arenado will turn it on,” he said. “We’re going to get real production out of them.”

To dive into player projections and performance analytics, visit the MLB picks page.

Thursday Pitching Matchup: Liberatore vs Abbott

Thursday’s game will feature a lefty-lefty duel as Matthew Liberatore takes the hill for St. Louis and Andrew Abbott counters for Cincinnati.

Matthew Liberatore – St. Louis Cardinals

Liberatore has quietly become a stabilizing force in the Cardinals’ rotation. After a shaky rookie year, the left-hander is 2-2 with a 3.19 ERA, and has lasted at least six innings in all five of his starts this season. His control has been especially impressive—28 strikeouts to just 2 walks across 31 innings.

In his most recent outing, he limited the Milwaukee Brewers to one earned run over six-plus innings in a 3-2 victory.

This will be his first career start against the Reds, although he owns a 1.17 ERA in seven relief appearances vs Cincinnati.

For more in-depth pitching matchups and career stats, check the MLB team breakdowns.

Andrew Abbott – Cincinnati Reds

Abbott (2-0, 3.60 ERA) started 2025 well but is coming off a tough outing in Denver, where he allowed four runs and walked five over four innings in a no-decision against the Colorado Rockies.

Command has been an issue for the lefty, who has struck out just four in his last start and was pulled early due to inefficiency.

Abbott hasn’t fared particularly well against St. Louis in his career. In five starts, he’s 3-2 but with a 4.94 ERA, allowing six home runs over 27.1 innings.

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Reds Still Searching for Consistency

While Cincinnati started the series with a solid 3-1 win on Monday, the back-to-back blowout losses have raised questions—particularly in the bullpen.

Former closer Alexis Diaz, an All-Star just last season, has struggled mightily. In Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Diaz gave up three consecutive home runs and five earned runs in one inning, extinguishing any hopes of a rally.

Through six appearances, Diaz has a 12.00 ERA and opponents are hitting .308 against him. Manager Terry Francona has remained patient but acknowledged the issues.

“You’d like to keep it 1-0 and give yourself a chance,” Francona said after Game 1. “It was tough.”

The Reds, now hovering around .500, will need to clean up their late-inning pitching if they want to hang with division rivals down the stretch.

Masyn Winn’s Breakout Performance

Perhaps the most exciting development for St. Louis has been the emergence of Masyn Winn. Known for his speed and defense, Winn showed off his power with two home runs in Game 1 and kept the pressure on in Game 2 with two more hits.

The 21-year-old’s promotion to the two-spot may be a permanent one if this performance continues.

“We want to inject some speed and get the bat going early,” Marmol said. “Masyn’s really close to breaking out, and I think this is just the beginning.”

You can track player streaks and advanced batting data through the MLB stats page.

What’s at Stake?

A Cardinals win on Thursday gives them their first road series win of the season—and would boost them from a team on the brink of collapse to one showing signs of life in a wide-open NL Central.

For Cincinnati, salvaging a split is critical. A third straight loss at home would raise serious concerns about the starting rotation’s depth and the bullpen’s reliability—especially Diaz’s ability to reclaim high-leverage innings.

With both teams fighting for identity and momentum, this finale carries early-season weight.

Series Snapshot

FAQs

When is the Cardinals vs Reds series finale?
Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati, concluding a four-game divisional series.

Who are the starting pitchers?
St. Louis starts Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 3.19 ERA); Cincinnati sends out Andrew Abbott (2-0, 3.60 ERA).

What’s at stake for the Cardinals?
They’re chasing their first road series win of 2025 after sweeping Wednesday’s doubleheader.

Why is Alexis Diaz struggling?
The former All-Star closer has a 12.00 ERA and allowed three home runs in one inning on Wednesday.

Who’s heating up for St. Louis?
Masyn Winn hit two home runs in Game 1 of the doubleheader and added two more hits in Game 2.

Where can I find betting tips for this game?
Visit the MLB Picks page for expert advice and predictions.