Chicago @ Cincinnati preview
Great American Ball Park
Last Meeting ( Mar 2, 2025 ) Cincinnati 7, Chi. Cubs 3
All-Star right-hander Hunter Greene will make his return from the 15-day injured list Friday night when the host Cincinnati Reds open a three-game series with the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs.
Greene (4-2, 2.36 ERA) left his May 7 start at Atlanta while warming up for the fourth inning.
"Those first two warm-up pitches, I just felt a groin grab," said Greene, who had struck out six during three scoreless innings.
"I just didn't feel like I would be at my best or be able to really, honestly, keep the team in it, continuing to throw if I stayed in."
An MRI the next day revealed the Grade 1 groin strain, and Greene was placed on the injured list. He threw a 35-pitch simulated game in full uniform on the Great American Ball Park game mound prior to the game against the Cleveland Guardians last Sunday and reported no discomfort.
"It went well. Velo was easy," Greene told reporters afterward. "Felt nothing, so I've got one more bullpen and then I'm back in the game."
Greene was third in the majors with 61 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings at the time of the injury. He is 4-1 with a 4.06 ERA in seven career starts against the Cubs, including one start on May 26, 2023, at Wrigley Field during which he tossed six no-hit innings while striking out 11 in a 9-0 victory.
One Cubs player who has done well against Greene, however, is outfielder Seiya Suzuki. Suzuki is hitting .462 with two home runs and six RBIs in 13 career at-bats against Greene.
Chicago will counter with left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-2, 2.98 ERA), who has won two of his past three starts, including a 7-3 victory over the White Sox on Saturday.
Boyd gave up three runs on four hits over six innings while striking out eight in the win over the White Sox. He also extended his streak of not issuing a walk to 70 consecutive batters, dating back to his April 30 start against Pittsburgh.
"You want to put pressure on the hitters," said Boyd, who has a total of 23 strikeouts over his past three starts.
"And you always want to counter what they're going to bring to the table. Strike one is always important. If you can get strike one and be in charge, be in command of the at-bats, it's always a good spot to be in."
Boyd is 1-3 with a 6.00 ERA in four career starts against the Reds and has particularly struggled in Cincinnati, where he is 0-3 with a 9.69 ERA.
Chicago comes in off a 2-1 win at Miami on Wednesday afternoon to clinch its 11th series win of the season.
Outfielder Kyle Tucker is 6-of-8 with two home runs over the past two games and had the go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning on Wednesday to break a 1-1 tie. Tucker is batting .278 with 12 home runs, four triples, 14 stolen bases and 35 RBIs.
"He really started swinging the bat this series, no question," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after the game Wednesday. "The last two days, every at-bat, just great swings, hard hit balls. He was the offense today."
--Field Level Media