Reds ace Hunter Greene was placed on the 15-day injured list just before Cincinnati’s game Saturday with right elbow soreness in what was deemed a “precautionary” move.

Greene (9-4, 2.83 ERA), who made the All-Star team for the first time in his three seasons in the majors, was sore after his start on Tuesday, according to Nick Krall, Cincinnati’s president of baseball operations. Greene felt better for a few days, but the pain returned after he played catch on Saturday.

“We put him on the IL for precautionary reasons. We’ll get the MRI in the next couple of days and go from there,” Krall said.

Greene, who vaulted into consideration for the National League Cy Young Award by going 4-0 in his last seven starts with an ERA of 0.98, had Tommy John on his right elbow in 2019.

He was first in the NL in opponents’ batting average (.185), third in ERA and tied for fourth in strikeouts. However, he also was second in walks (53) and first in hit batters (19).

Greene had been scheduled to pitch again Monday, although no plan for that start was immediately announced. The Reds said a corresponding move to fill Greene’s spot on the active roster would come Sunday.

Cincinnati’s first-round pick in 2017 (second overall) is 18-24 with a 3.94 ERA in 70 career starts.

–Field Level Media