The last time we watched Hunter Greene on the mound for the Cincinnati Reds, the world was treated to his greatness. Greene fired a complete game shutout against the rival Chicago Cubs, limiting them to just
a lone hit and lone walk while striking out 9 on the day, good enough for a 93 game score that’s both the best of his career and 3rd best of any pitcher in baseball so far in 2025.
Only Sonny Gray’s 11 K complete game against the Cleveland Guardians on June 27th and Tarik Skubal’s 13 K complete game against the same Guardians on May 25th rank higher (96), though neither came in the season’s final two weeks when the playoff chase was down its final furlong.
Greene will start again for the Reds tonight against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who motored past Brady Singer & Co. last night for a 4-2 victory that threw a serious wrench into Cincinnati’s postseason plans. Tonight will be no easier at all, either, as Cy Young frontrunner Paul Skenes will toe the rubber for the Pirates.
Skenes’ best game score so far in 2025 is merely an 80, though that’s in part due to Pittsburgh’s unwillingness to truly let him pitch deep into games. He’s pitched into the 8th inning only four times all year and topped 100 pitches only eight times – and only two of those have come after May 23rd as the Pirates do everything they can to protect their superstar while refusing to either extend him or surround him with capable sidekicks.
It’ll be a battle of aces, one that will be appointment viewing at 6:40 PM ET.
Lineups below. Go Reds!
