Hunter

Greene

This was absolutely the last thing the Reds needed. Greene’s velocity was fine tonight, but his 65 pitches produced just five missed swings and nine hard-hit balls. He also walked two batters in front of the second homer of the night. It was the first time since April that he’s given up three homers in a game.

Greene draws the starting assignment for the upstart Reds, who snuck into the postseason on the final day of the regular season. The flame-throwing 26-year-old ace was limited to just 19 regular-season starts due to a groin injury that sidelined him for over two months. He’ll face an extremely tough test against the defending World Series champions at Dodger Stadium, but definitely has the high-octane stuff required to potentially shut them down.

Greene’s battle with Paul Skenes delivered. A pitchers’ duel with playoff implications, the two combined to give up just nine hits and two runs with 14 strikeouts over 12 innings. Greene was the only one to let a run in though. Both of those runs came via hits by Spencer Horwitz who took advantage of two mistakes by Greene on a fastball and splitter that were each in the heart of the zone. Also, his slider command was good rather than great as he had a few more noncompetitive misses than normal. It was still a great regular season finale for the young right-hander who’s officially reached ace status.

It’s Greene’s first shutout since his rookie campaign in 2022. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out nine batters on the night — including Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ to finish it out. He carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning until Seiya Suzuki spoiled the fun with a two-out double. That would be the Cubs’ only hit in the ballgame. Greene got 17 swings and misses on 109 pitches on the night — nine on his fastball — while registering a strong CSW of 36 percent. He’ll look to keep the good times rolling and finish the season on a high note as he carries a 7-4 record, 2.74 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and a 125/24 K/BB ratio (101 2/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Pirates.

Brent Rooker and Carlos Cortes homered off him in the second inning. Greene’s night ended when he took a comebacker off his leg in the third, though he was probably done anyway. The 26-year-old had a little less fastball movement than usual, and whenever that happens, tough nights tend to follow. Still, that doesn’t really explain the season-high four walks; he’s walked 19 in 90 1/3 innings this season coming into this one. He’s due to face the Cubs next week.

Greene gave up one hit, walked two and struck out 12. It was a dominant performance by the 26-year-old right-hander. Greene has allowed just two runs in 13 1/3 innings over his last two starts while striking out 19. He has a 2.59 ERA and 113/19 K/BB ratio in 90 1/3 innings this year. Greene is lined up to face the Athletics on the road next weekend.

The run came in the seventh on a double, a walk and a single with one out. He was then replaced by Scott Barlow, who retired Nathan Lukes and Ernie Clement to preserve a 2-1 lead that wound up being lost in the ninth. Greene has a 2.66 ERA and a 28/3 K/BB in 23 2/3 innings over four starts since coming off the IL. He’ll face the Mets next.

Greene allowed a pair of homers in the loss; both to Andy Pages. Two more runs were charged to the 26-year-old, but they were unearned due to errors committed by Elly De La Cruz and Austin Hays. He walked two and struck out three. It could have gone worse, and Greene has built up enough goodwill to not be too harsh about a “clunker” against a lineup as good as the Dodgers. He’ll take a 2.81 ERA into his first start of September; scheduled for Monday against the Blue Jays.

Greene gave up a run to the Angels in the first inning on a double and a base hit. He settled in for five scoreless frames before giving up a solo homer to Jo Adell to lead off the seventh inning. He’d record his 12th strikeout, then allowed a double that would end his day with one out in the seventh at 98 pitches. The 26-year-old right-hander will take a 2.63 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and a 91/14 K/BB ratio across 72 innings into a start against the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Monday.

Greene’s first start in more than two months looked like most of his early outings prior to his original groin injury, as he struck out six and walked none. He had 16 missed swings while throwing only 85 pitches, and he improved to 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA and a 79/14 K/BB through 65 2/3 innings. Next up for him is a start against the Angels in Anaheim.