NL Central
St. Louis Cardinals
Busch Stadium · St. Louis
The St. Louis Cardinals are a Major League Baseball team in the National League Central division.
NL Central Rivalry
Cardinals–Reds
An old NL feud reignited
One of the National League's longest-running rivalries, between two charter-era franchises separated by a few hours' drive. A century of competition turned genuinely heated when the teams became NL Central contenders.
The Rivalry
The Cardinals and Reds have been National League adversaries since 1892, when St. Louis joined the senior circuit alongside Cincinnati. For much of that long history they were simply familiar opponents rather than bitter enemies. The modern rivalry sharpened in 2009, when St. Louis publicly accused Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo of doctoring his cap, and it boiled over on August 10, 2010: Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips tapped Yadier Molina's shin guard with his bat after disparaging the Cardinals, triggering a benches-clearing brawl. With both clubs contending in the NL Central through the early 2010s, the games carried real animosity between the players themselves.
What's at Stake
As NL Central rivals, the Cardinals and Reds meet many times a year, and those games can swing division races and playoff positioning. The geographic angle adds bite: St. Louis and Cincinnati are only a few hours apart, so fans of both clubs travel easily and fill each other's ballparks. St. Louis brings one of baseball's most successful traditions; Cincinnati owns deep roots as one of the sport's oldest franchises.
Famous Moments
- 1892 — Cincinnati handed St. Louis a 5-1 loss in one of the teams' first National League meetings.
- 2009 — The Cardinals accused Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo of using pine tar, an incident that helped spark the modern rivalry.
- 2010 — A bat tap on Yadier Molina's shin guard by Brandon Phillips ignited an August benches-clearing brawl.
- 2010 — During that brawl, Johnny Cueto's kicks injured Cardinals catcher Jason LaRue, who never played again.
- 2012 — The Reds and Cardinals battled through the NL Central season with Cincinnati ultimately winning the division.
The Two Teams
Plan the Trip
A Cardinals-Reds series is built for a short Midwest baseball trip. Busch Stadium puts fans downtown with Gateway Arch views and a passionate St. Louis crowd, while Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park sits along the Ohio River with riverboat-themed touches. With only a few hours separating the cities, pairing both ballparks in one road trip is simple.
Frequently Asked Questions: Cardinals–Reds
The two teams first met in 1892. One of the National League's longest-running rivalries, between two charter-era franchises separated by a few hours' drive. A century of competition turned genuinely heated when the teams became NL Central contenders.
As NL Central rivals, the Cardinals and Reds meet many times a year, and those games can swing division races and playoff positioning. The geographic angle adds bite: St. Louis and Cincinnati are only a few hours apart, so fans of both clubs travel easily and fill each other's ballparks. St. Louis brings one of baseball's most successful traditions; Cincinnati owns deep roots as one of the sport's oldest franchises.
Yes — as NL Central division rivals they face off many times across the 2026 MLB season.
St. Louis Cardinals host at Busch Stadium in St. Louis; Cincinnati Reds play at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
