Hunter Greene returns to the Cincinnati Reds rotation on Sunday after landing on the 15-day IL with right elbow soreness on August 17th. The Reds have also designated right-handed pitcher Alan Busenitz for assignment. Greene will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday and look to return to his dominant form on the mound.
The #Reds today activated from the 15-day injured list RHP Hunter Greene and designated for assignment RHP Alan Busenitz. pic.twitter.com/uJE2BkvVh7
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 22, 2024
Reds Get Quality Starter Back From 15-Day IL
Reds And Pirates Late Stretch Performances
In their last 10 games, the Pirates have a 3-7 record while offensively batting .239 as a club. But the Reds have played better with a 5-5 record and have batted .248 in their previous 10 games. The Reds also have a 12-7 record in September with six games remaining. So far, it’s been their best month of the season. In contrast, the Pirates have a 9-11 record in September. But ace Greene will take on NL Rookie of the Year candidate Paul Skenes, a quality matchup.
Skenes has a 10-3 record, a 2.07 ERA, and 158 strikeouts. Two clutch starting pitchers going head-to-head in the NL Central will be exciting to watch. At the same time, this game doesn’t mean much in the season, as both teams won’t be in the post-season picture. But watching how both Skenes and Greene perform will showcase the top starters going into next season. Greene and Skenes will likely be highlighted as two of next season’s strongest elite starters in the NL Central.
Greene’s Strong Attributes
Greene is a former number two overall pick that the Reds are treasured to have in their bullpen. Greene can throw hard and has thrown the most pitches at 100 mph or faster (339). The 25-year-old was having a solid season with the Reds before getting injured, going 9-4 with a 2.83 ERA and 162 strikeouts. He last pitched on August 13th against the St. Louis Cardinals, resulting in a 4-1 victory for the Reds. While there is only one week left of the regular season, and the Reds are nowhere near close to making the postseason. They had the option to rest Greene. But the right-hander was thirsty to pitch and get back on the mound for the Reds. Hunter Greene will likely only pitch about four to five innings but is looking to come out strong in his return from the IL. He will wrap up the series finale with the Pirates and have one more final start against the Chicago Cubs.
Main Photo Credits: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
