Greene's sizzling return aids Reds' playoff push with Brewers on tap

CINCINNATI -- From the Reds’ perspective, the long-awaited return of Hunter Greene to the mound on Wednesday night vs. the Phillies could not have gone better. For a team trying to make it into the postseason, its timing could be pivotal.

Back from a two-plus month absence with a right groin strain, Greene was impressive throughout his six scoreless innings. The offense did its part to support the effort during an 8-0 Reds win that gave them two of three games in the series at Great American Ball Park.

“He really pitched. That was fun to watch," manager Terry Francona said of Greene. "That’s what you hope for. It doesn’t always work that way, but it gave us a big lift.”

The Reds (64-58) have won four of their last five games and moved to one game behind the Mets (64-56) for the third National League Wild Card spot.

Greene gave up three hits with no walks and six strikeouts, while throwing 85 pitches (58 strikes). He went to a three-ball count only four times -- all in full-count situations.

“It was great," Greene said. "A lot of mental fortitude and a lot of inner emotions and thoughts, trying to overcome and obviously be able to produce tonight. I’m glad I was on this side of that.”

Greene touched 100 mph or more with his fastball 11 times, including a top speed of 101.2 mph to Bryce Harper leading off the fourth inning that yielded a groundout to second base. But he also made Phillies hitters uncomfortable with his offspeed pitches.

“He kind of picked up right where he left off," said closer Emilio Pagán, who pitched a perfect ninth inning. "Unbelievable fastball command with his velocity and then he had the slider and the splitter going tonight. He got some really bad swings on a split. What he’s capable of doing on the mound is a huge pickup for us.

“We’re all going to have to do our jobs and play clean baseball down the stretch but having him back is a good feeling.”

Following Trea Turner's soft two-out single to left field in the third inning, Greene got Kyle Schwarber looking at a 100.7 mph fastball for strike three -- the first of nine straight batters he retired. Cincinnati had a 1-0 lead when Schwarber returned in the sixth inning and hit a two-out double to left-center field. He advanced to third base on a wild pitch to bring the potential tying run 90 feet from scoring.

Schwarber remained stranded as Greene struck out Harper with a 90 mph slider to escape and showed emotion as he headed to the dugout after what turned out to be his final pitch of the night.

“You could see what it meant to him by his reaction," Francona said. "There will be opportunities for him to go deeper. Just not tonight.”

In 12 starts this season, Greene is 5-3 with a 2.47 ERA in 65 2/3 innings. The club's Opening Day starter, he also missed time on the injured list because of the Grade 1 groin strain from May 8-23 before a recurrence of the same injury during his previous start on June 3 put him back on the IL.

“Seeing him like that was impressive. Everybody knows he throws hard, but at the end of the day, he knows how to pitch," said designated hitter Miguel Andujar, who hit a seventh-inning grand slam to put the game out of reach.

The Reds have 40 games remaining in the 2025 season, and have one of baseball's toughest remaining schedules that resumes on Friday with the Brewers, who are bringing a 12-game winning streak to town for a big three-game set.

The timeline means Greene could get eight more starts this season -- give or take. Having him back and pitching this effectively could further improve Cincinnati's chances to get its first postseason berth during a full season since 2013.

“We’ll see. I have a lot of confidence in myself and what I’m able to do at this level. I’m taking it one day at a time and I'm being as present as possible," Greene said. “It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of excitement. We play this game to be in tough situations, to beat the odds, to be uncomfortable. So to be right in the mix of that, I welcome it. I embrace it.”