Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona has officially named right-hander Hunter Greene as the starting pitcher for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Orioles at Great American Ball Park, marking the ace's return after nearly three months on the injured list. Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer first reported the decision on X, with Brady Singer scheduled to start Friday before Greene rejoins the rotation on Independence Day.
Greene's return gives Cincinnati its Opening Day starter back after he underwent arthroscopic surgery in early March to remove bone chips and loose bodies from his right elbow. The procedure forced him to miss the first half of the season, leaving the Reds without the pitcher expected to lead their rotation.
The 25-year-old right-hander steadily built toward his return through a structured rehabilitation program. He progressed from throwing sessions to multiple minor league rehab starts before making his final appearance for Triple-A Louisville on June 28, allowing one hit over 6 1/3 scoreless innings with four strikeouts, no walks, and 82 pitches.
That outing convinced the Reds he was ready to return to the major league rotation. Rather than limiting his workload further in the minors, Cincinnati will hand Greene the ball Saturday against Baltimore for his 2026 season debut.
Greene has established himself as the Reds' frontline starter over the past two seasons. He posted a 2.75 ERA across 150 1/3 innings in 2024 before following with a 2.76 ERA over 19 starts in 2025, earning the Opening Day assignment and starting Cincinnati's National League Wild Card opener last postseason.
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
His return comes at an important time for the Reds, who entered the week with a 39-44 record and sitting fifth in the National League Central. While Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, and the rest of the rotation kept the club competitive during Greene's absence, Cincinnati has lacked its top strikeout pitcher at the front of the staff.
Adding Greene back immediately strengthens a rotation trying to keep the Reds within striking distance of the postseason race during the second half. His ability to work deep into games also helps reduce pressure on a bullpen that has carried additional innings throughout his absence.
Saturday's matchup against the Orioles will be Greene's first major league appearance since the elbow procedure and the next step in Cincinnati's effort to climb back into contention. If he returns to the form he showed over the previous two seasons, the Reds will once again have the ace they planned to build their rotation around entering 2026.
ALSO SEE:
- MLB Prop Bets Today: Best MLB Player Prop Predictions for Tuesday, June 30
- MLB Home Run Predictions Today: Best HR Prop Bets for Tuesday, June 30
- NRFI and YRFI MLB Bets Today: Best First Inning Predictions for Tuesday, June 30
