St. Louis Cardinals vs Cincinnati Reds Starting Lineup — Monday, Aug 17, 2026

Rhett Lowder faces an away lineup that features several batters with previous experience against him. Blaze Jordan has posted a .500 AVG and a 1.500 OPS across 2 at-bats, while Pedro Pagés also holds a .500 AVG with a 1.000 OPS in his 2 at-bats. Jordan Walker has tallied 4 at-bats against Lowder, recording a .250 AVG and a .500 OPS, and Iván Herrera is hitless in 1 at-bat with a .500 OPS. José Fermín is 0-for-2 with a .000 OPS, while Alec Burleson and Masyn Winn are both hitless in 2 at-bats with a .000 OPS. Joshua Báez and Everson Pereira have no MLB history vs that pitcher.

Quinn Mathews enters this matchup with completely fresh territory against the home batting order. None of the nine scheduled starters—Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, Tyler Stephenson, Eugenio Suárez, Dane Myers, Michael Toglia, Matt McLain, Noelvi Marte, and Ke'Bryan Hayes—have ever faced Mathews at the Major League level. Each of these hitters will be stepping into the batter's box for their very first career plate appearance against the left-hander.

The away side holds a clear advantage in experience, sending seven hitters with prior matchups against Lowder, whereas the entire home lineup has zero combined history against Mathews.