The Cincinnati Reds open a demanding week when the St. Louis Cardinals begin a five-game swing through the Queen City, starting with a day-night doubleheader Monday. The compressed schedule — five games in four days — sets up a potentially decisive series for both clubs as they jockey for postseason position.
Schedule and projected starting pitchers
MLB.com's reported probable pitching matchups list a mix of established arms and younger pitchers for the series, though teams frequently adjust rotations on short notice.
| Date | Time (CT) | Matchup (Cardinals vs. Reds) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Aug. 17 (Game 1 of doubleheader) | 12:40 p.m. | TBD vs. Quinn Mathews |
| Monday, Aug. 17 (Game 2 of doubleheader) | 5:40 p.m. | Rhett Lowder (RHP) vs. Andre Pallante |
| Tuesday, Aug. 18 | 5:40 p.m. | Andrew Abbott (LHP) vs. Kyle Leahy |
| Wednesday, Aug. 19 | 5:40 p.m. | Chase Burns vs. Matthew Liberatore |
| Thursday, Aug. 20 | 11:40 a.m. | TBD vs. Michael McGreevy |
Rotation notes and recent form
Those projected matchups are subject to change, and team officials often tinker with rotations during heavy stretches.
"It's important to emphasize that the pitching matchups are somewhat tentative and changeable."The Cardinals’ rotation includes a mix of expected and TBD starters for the doubleheader, according to reporting cited by local media.
On the Cincinnati side, recent outings offer mixed signals about how the rotation will fare through the busy week:
- Rhett Lowder is 1-1 over his last three starts. His most recent outing, Aug. 12 against the Chicago White Sox, resulted in a loss despite a 5 1/3-inning performance in which he allowed two earned runs, seven hits, struck out four and walked one.
- Andrew Abbott is also 1-1 over his last three starts. On Aug. 13 against the White Sox he took a no-decision after pitching 4 1/3 innings with seven hits and five earned runs, striking out three and walking three. Abbott had won his prior start on Aug. 6, when he worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed three earned runs.
- Chase Burns has been perhaps the most consistent option lately, carrying a 14-2 record. His Aug. 14 start against the Marlins was a standout: seven innings, four hits, no earned runs, eight strikeouts and no walks. That came one start after a difficult outing Aug. 8 versus Washington, when he was charged with five earned runs.
Why this week matters
Compressed schedules place extra strain on pitching staffs and bullpens. A doubleheader day often forces managers to reorder starting rotations and rely on depth from the bullpen. For Cincinnati, the performances of starters like Lowder, Abbott and Burns will be crucial in limiting innings eaten by relievers and preserving freshness for the later games in the stretch.
St. Louis also faces the challenge of keeping arms available across five games in four days. The Cardinals’ planned starters — including Andre Pallante, Matthew Liberatore and Michael McGreevy — represent a mix of options the club will lean on to get through the workload. How each team manages its rotation and bullpen usage could influence not just this series but the coming weeks of the season.
Fans planning to attend should expect quick turnaround times on Monday and the potential for late pitching changes throughout the series. As always with mid-August baseball, weather and in-season roster moves could alter the outlook before first pitch.
Local sports coverage will track any confirmed changes to the pitching schedule and report updates as teams announce their plans leading into Monday’s doubleheader.
