Former All-Star pitcher Hunter Greene is set to make his season debut Saturday night for the Cincinnati Reds as they look to even their weekend series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles.
The return of the Reds’ ace from the injured list comes as the team is struggling to stay within striking distance of a postseason berth. After Friday’s 3-0 loss, Cincinnati has a 40-47 record, the fourth-worst mark in the National League, and is seven games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the third and final wild-card spot.
Despite the Reds winning just three of their last 10 games and playing sub-.400 ball over the past two months, Greene told reporters in the locker room before Friday’s game that he still believes they can make a run.
“There’s too many ebbs and flows of the season, and you guys have seen our team and other teams get really hot,” said the right-hander, who had surgery in March to remove bone chips from his right elbow. “We know that that’s our ability.”
When healthy, Greene, 26, has been one of the National League’s best pitchers over the last two seasons, posting a 16-9 record with a 2.76 ERA over 258 innings with 301 strikeouts. However, he made only 45 starts as he lost time to a groin strain and elbow injuries.
Greene made two starts for Triple-A Louisville to prepare for his return. In his last start, he threw 6 1/3 innings in a 3-0 win, retiring the last 16 batters he faced while throwing 82 pitches.
However, Greene will need support from his offense. In their last 10 games, the Reds have hit just .232 and averaged less than four runs per game. Their .220 average this season with runners in scoring position is the worst in the majors.
Elly De La Cruz has been a bright spot in the Reds’ lineup since he returned from a hamstring injury late last month. He went 1-for-3 Friday to extend his hitting streak to six games.
Greene has faced Baltimore twice in his career. He’s 0-1, with a 5.19 ERA. Last April in Baltimore, he lasted just three innings and gave up five runs in a 9-5 loss.
The Orioles had only four hits in their victory on Friday, but one of them was a two-run homer by Samuel Basallo in the third inning. It was enough to get the win as Trevor Rogers threw five shutout innings.
Baltimore has won four of its last 10 games. Orioles pitchers have allowed a total of three runs in those victories. Rogers said he believes the staff can take it up a notch as its rotation gets healthier.
“That’s what it’s going to take for us to go on that run,” he said.
Brandon Young (6-2, 3.11 ERA) will start for Baltimore on Saturday. The right-hander has won three of his last five starts.
Young also faced the Reds in the April game last year. He lasted only four innings, allowing three runs on seven hits, with three walks and three strikeouts.
Baltimore’s Taylor Ward reached base twice Friday with a hit and a walk in four plate appearances. While he’s only hitting .251 through 88 games, his .379 on-base percentage ranks among the top 10 in the AL.
–Field Level Media
