Hunter Greene is nearly ready to return, Reds fans! While he’s not officially off the injured list yet, Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona expressed strong optimism during an MLB Network Radio interview that Greene will be back on the mound later this week.
“Greene threw a bullpen session yesterday on the game mound,” Francona said. “He came through it really well, so we’re all set once we return to Cincinnati. I think we play the Cubs, and he should be ready to slot in for that series — great news for us.”
Absolutely. With Nick Lodolo, Nick Martinez, and Brady Singer lined up to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates over the next few days, it would be ideal if Greene could rejoin the rotation in time for Friday’s opener against the Cubs. That would allow Francona to follow up with Andrew Abbott on Saturday and Lodolo in Sunday’s finale — a key stretch for Cincinnati.
Terry Francona suggests that Hunter Greene could return in time for Reds-Cubs series this weekend
Hunter Greene has been sidelined the past couple of weeks with a groin injury, but it was initially believed to be relatively minor. If the Reds’ ace is able to return to the mound later this week, that assessment will prove accurate. Prior to the injury, Greene was among the most dominant arms in the game, and Reds fans are eager to see him return to form.
So far this season, Greene owns a 4-2 record with an impressive 2.36 ERA. He’s struck out 61 batters over 45 ⅔ innings and boasts a stellar 0.810 WHIP. Though durability has been a concern in recent years, returning this week would mean he’d have missed just three starts.
The Reds will need all the pitching depth they can get with key division matchups looming. Two of their next four series are against the Chicago Cubs, giving Greene a strong chance to face them multiple times in the coming weeks.
The Cubs have emerged as the frontrunners in the NL Central, while the Reds, currently sitting at .500, trail both Chicago and St. Louis. However, Cincinnati is riding a league-best four-game win streak heading into tonight’s road contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates — and they’ll look to keep the momentum rolling.
