CINCINNATI -- The thrill of the Reds' 4-2 win over the Brewers had one rather important down note attached to it. Rotation ace Hunter Greene left Tuesday's game after five innings and 85 pitches because he felt something in his right groin.
It's the same right groin that Greene strained on May 7 at Atlanta, which sent him to the 15-day injured list from May 8-23.
“Not as bad, but it still grabbed," Greene said.
Greene said he felt the soreness during his final two pitches of his start. Manager Terry Francona noted that the right-hander will undergo an MRI exam at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday before the Reds wrap up their three-game series with Milwaukee.
“It’s not concerning. It’s frustrating," Greene said. "I want to be out there. I want to compete. I feel like, as a pitcher, you do your best when you’re in a groove and you’re going out there every single fifth or sixth day. It just makes it a little more difficult when you’re trying to overcome certain stuff and you've got to be sidelined.”
Over his five innings, Greene allowed two earned runs and five hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. He threw first-pitch strikes to all 23 batters he faced.
If the Reds lose Greene again for an extended period, they could turn to Chase Petty -- the club's No. 6 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- like the last time. However, Petty also struggled with 13 earned runs, 13 hits, three home runs and eight walks over 5 1/3 innings in two starts for a 21.94 ERA. Other starters like prospect Rhett Lowder and right-hander Carson Spiers are on the IL.
One intriguing option could be veteran Wade Miley, who just opted out of his Minor League contract with the Reds on Sunday to seek a big league rotation spot elsewhere. Should Greene go back on the IL, the 38-year-old Miley could be in position to get what he was looking for with Cincinnati all along.