Game Preview 6/22/25: Cardinals Vs Reds

Redbirds try to sweep the Red Legs behind Mikolas

5 in a row! After Nolan Arenado and Yohel Pozo’s late game heroics the St. Louis Cardinals will try to sweep a Reds team who’s pitching is in complete disarray after the first 2 games of this series. The Cardinals enter Sunday’s contest at a respectable 7 games over .500 at 42-35 tied in 2nd place with the Milwaukee Brewers and both are currently tied for the final Wild Card spot in the NL. If the Cardinals can win today and match their season high watermark of 8 games over .500 they’ll be in prime position when the division leading Chicago Cubs come to town starting tomorrow night for one of the most anticipated series of the season.

The Cardinals have optioned Andre Granillo before today’s game and recalled Gordon Graceffo, per team announcement. The aftermath of a double header and extra’s yesterday have resulted in the Cardinals needing to protect their bullpen before the start of the series against Chicago tomorrow.

But before that Miles Mikolas will take the mound for the Cardinals in the finale of this series. Mikolas will be looking to get a few more lucky bounces and get back on track. In his last 4 starts he has a .382 BABIP, a .344 BAA, and a 1.62 WHIP that’s produced a 6.43 ERA. Interestingly enough his underlying data suggest he hasn’t been all that bad generating a 3.87 FIP, unlucky with a high variability of outcomes because of the ball being put in play consistently.

The Reds will send Andrew Abbott to the mound in opposition in hopes of salvaging a game of this series. Abbott, over his last 6 starts has a 1.46 ERA but a 3.06 FIP. In that same time span he has a .202 BAA, 0.91 WHIP, and has stranded what runners do get on at an 87.2% clip. If the Cardinals hope to get to Abbott today is going to have to be one of those days where they either run up the pitch count early and get to a depleted bullpen or they’re going to have to slug because Abbott is not someone who gets beat by the “death by a thousand cuts” approach the Cardinals offense takes.

How to watch: FanDuel Sports Midwest

How to listen: 1120 AM KMOX/104.1 FM, 880 AM WIJR (Spanish broadcast)

Matchup:

STL: Miles Mikolas (4-4 4.35 ERA, 4.36 xERA, 3.73 FIP, 4.72 xFIP)

VS

CIN: Andrew Abbott (6-1 1.84 ERA, 2.94 xERA, 3.49 FIP, 3.94 xFIP)

Player to watch:

STL: Nolan Arenado- In 15 career AB’s against Abbott, Nolan Arenado, has a .467 AVG and a 1.367 OPS with 2 HR and 5 RBI. Arenado has been performing very well in his last 15 games overall slashing .339/.383/.571 good for a .954 OPS with 4 HR and 10 RBI in that span. Look for Nolan to continue his hot hitting against a LHP he has had success against.

CIN: Will Benson- Benson, is 7-10 in his career against Mikolas with a 1.836 OPS and 1 HR and 3 RBI. It’s been a struggle of late for Benson, in his last 15 games, he’s slashing .167/.275/.286 good for a .561 OPS with 1 HR and 7 RBI. Even though he’s been going through a rough stretch lately you cant overlook a guy with a .700 batting average against a guy.