Cincinnati Reds Hunter Greene pitcher (21) throws a pitch in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 23, 2025, at Great American Ball Park in Downtown Cincinnati. The host Cincinnati Reds don’t plan any further restrictions on right-hander Hunter Greene when he takes the mound against the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers in the second game of a three-game series on Tuesday evening.
Greene (4-3, 2.63 ERA) has made two starts since missing two others with a strained groin. He is seeking his first win since May 2 but will face a Brewers team riding an eight-game winning streak.
Greene took the loss after surrendering two runs and seven hits in five innings of a 3-2 road defeat against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.
“They made him work,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “I didn’t think he had his best command, and I think it’s a little bit expected on his second start back. Now, he’ll get an extra day this time, and I think starting with his next outing, we can kind of take the gloves off. Let him be who he is and not worry about the pitch count so much.”
Greene was 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA when he made a start against the Atlanta Braves on May 7, but the groin injury forced him out after three scoreless innings.
He returned to oppose the visiting Chicago Cubs on May 23 and was limited to four innings of two-run ball in the Reds’ 13-6 loss. He threw 83 pitches in that game and 88 against the Royals.
“It was one of those days where I had to grind a little bit more,” Greene said of his most recent start. “If you can be successful on days like (that), I take a lot of pride in that. More so than the days that you feel perfect. I definitely battled and tried to keep the team in it.
“I’m still somewhat trying to get my bearings. (Against the Royals), the start was better than the last one, but still a lot to work on, and I will get back to what I usually do.”
Greene is 1-4 with a 7.45 ERA in six career starts against Milwaukee.
The Brewers captured the series opener 3-2 and now will seek their first nine-game winning streak since August 2023.
Christian Yelich continues to be the toughest out for Milwaukee.
He was named NL Player of the Week on Monday after going 10-for-20 in five games with three homers and nine RBIs, including a walk-off grand slam against the visiting Boston Red Sox on May 27.
“I don’t even know the last time I did it, but I had a good week and did some things to help the team win,” Yelich said of the award.
Yelich began this week by hitting a solo home run in the third inning on Monday that broke a 2-2 tie.
The Brewers’ Tuesday starter will be veteran right-hander Freddy Peralta (5-3, 2.77 ERA), who went 2-1 with a 3.16 ERA in five May starts.
In his latest outing, he did not receive a decision after allowing three runs and six hits in five innings of a 6-5 Milwaukee win in 10 innings against Boston on Wednesday.
Peralta, who turns 29 on Wednesday, has made 20 appearances (14 starts) against the Reds and is 5-3 with a 3.35 ERA and the only save of his career.
–Field Level Media
