Cincinnati Reds Reinstates Hunter Greene from Injury Leave

The Cincinnati Reds activated right-hander Hunter Greene from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's home game against the Chicago Cubs. Greene, 25, has been sidelined with a right groin injury since exiting a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 7. He tossed a 35-pitch simulated game on Sunday and pronounced himself ready to return. Greene is 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 61 strikeouts in eight starts this season.

The Cincinnati Reds have activated right-hander Hunter Greene from the 15-day injured list to start Friday's home game against the Chicago Cubs. Greene, 25, has been sidelined with a right groin injury since exiting a game against the Atlanta Braves on May 7. He tossed a 35-pitch simulated game on Sunday and pronounced himself ready to return.

Greene is 4-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 61 strikeouts in eight starts this season. His return will bolster the Reds' pitching staff, which has been solid with a 3.48 team ERA. The Cubs, however, have a formidable offense that leads the league with 5.9 runs per game and ranks 5th in home runs (69) [1].

The Cubs' offense is backed by a powerful lineup that includes Kyle Tucker, who leads the team with 12 home runs, and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who has 12 homers and 39 RBIs. Tucker has been on fire recently, posting a .389 average with two home runs over his last five games.

On the mound, the Cubs will rely on Matthew Boyd (4-2, 2.98 ERA), who has been steady this season. Boyd’s 9.3 K/9 rate and .229 batting average against him make him a formidable opponent for the Reds' offense. The Cubs' pitching staff as a whole ranks 16th in ERA (3.90), but Boyd's ability to control the game with his strikeouts will be crucial against the Reds' lineup.

Greene's return will be a key factor in the game. He is the Reds' ace and has been outstanding, with a 12.3 K/9 rate and holding opponents to a .232 average. However, the Cubs' offensive depth and power could wear him down. The Reds have allowed 55 home runs this season, and with the Cubs' potent offense, that's a concerning stat.

The Cubs have been solid on the road and have gone 7-2 in their last nine games. Their ability to get runners on base consistently will test the Reds' relief corps.

The Cubs love Friday games and are expected to be the favorites in this matchup. The best bet according to DraftKings Network is Cubs (-115) at Reds [1].

References:

[1] https://dknetwork.draftkings.com/2025/05/23/cincinnati-reds-vs-chicago-cubs-prediction-pick-for-friday-5-23-25/
[2] https://www.reuters.com/sports/reds-reinstate-rhp-hunter-greene-15-day-il-2025-05-23/
[3] https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/05/20/chicago-vs-miami-5-20-2025-mlb-baseball-odds-lines-how-to-watch/83740309007/