The Cincinnati Reds have officially named Hunter Greene as the Game 1 starter against the Los Angeles Dodgers tomorrow night as the two teams begin the 1st round of the playoffs. That shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone given all of the talk over the past week about how the rotation was being lined up, or not being lined up for the final game of the season when it came to Greene not being moved up to pitch on Tuesday and Sunday.
Things wound up working out for the Reds in that one as Cincinnati lost on Sunday but still made the playoffs thanks to the Miami Marlins beating the New York Mets about 25 minutes later. It was a roll of the dice for Terry Francona and the Reds, but now Greene – the clubs best pitcher – is set to open up the playoffs against the Dodgers in his home town of Los Angeles on Tuesday night at 9:08pm ET.
Hunter Greene missed several months this season with a groin injury. That limited him to 19 starts this season. But he was very good in those 19 games, posting a 2.76 ERA to go along with a 0.94 WHIP, 26 walks, just 75 hits allowed, and 132 strikeouts in 107.2 innings pitched.
In the 2025 season Greene faced off against the Dodgers one time. It didn’t go well and was one of his worst starts of the season. The right-handed starter allowed three earned runs and was charged with two unearned runs in a 7-0 loss in Los Angeles where he threw 5.0 innings. In 2024 he pitched much better against the Dodgers. In back-to-back outings – one in Cincinnati and one in Los Angeles – Greene allowed three runs over his 12.1 innings. The two clubs split those games.
While there was never any doubt that Hunter Greene was going to make the postseason roster, we don’t quite know who else will be on it. The team has until tomorrow morning to set the official roster for this series and it will be limited to 26 players. That means that at least two players who were on the team on Sunday will not be on the team for this next round. Teams can change their 26-man roster after each round of the playoffs if they so choose.
My guess is we will lose Sal Stewart and one of the bullpen arms (Barlow?), and one of the starters will move to the bullpen.
God no. He is one of the few guys that can hit. Barlow, maybe, but Stewart NOOOOO.
I want to keep Sal too, but Tito doesn’t seem to enamored of him.
Then again, so we it’s a short series, maybe they just remove two pitchers instead.
We’ll see what Tito is thinking when the roster comes out.
It should be Espinal, unless Hayes is hurt bad enough to where he won’t be able to play. The other will likely be either Maxwell or Suter.
Yep probably Espinal. I bet Suter is on 26 man. Need a LH in BP. On the other hand move Abbott to BP? Then maybe Suter is off roster.
Since you change after three rounds they can lose two of the 5 starters or put one in bullpen to replace Maxwell. I would think Greene, Lodolo and Abbott would be the three to keep for sure with Singer replacing Maxwell.
Would be oh so amazing is the Reds could shock LA in a short series.
They already took down on mega market team (NYM) that signs (nearly) billion dollar contracts. Why not another?
If we can take 2 of 3 from the Brewers at their place which were essentially playoff games, we can do it to anyone in baseball!
Except the Brewers weren’t really playing for anything for the last 3 games. They were rotating pitchers like a revolving door. Not sure they felt an urgency to clinch home field for the playoffs.
Not sure what you were watching.
They were for the 1st 2 games until they clinched home field.
Even Sunday…They used a bullpen game…Uhmm they have the best bullpen in baseball.
Yeah: I didn’t see any easy pitchers in a Brewers uniform, and the whole team played hard.
I’m thinking Espinal and Maxwell. Perhaps Hays if he is still ailing.
The stage and spotlight are all yours, HG. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. Go get ’em!
I don’t see how they’d need Espinal or Singer – Espinal because he never played in September anyway, and Singer because he just started yesterday and there are plenty of other arms, including either Littell or Abbott who won’t start in this series. If they need a fourth long reliever (after Martinez, Suter and either Littell or Abbott) then they won’t be winning the series anyway. The only way you keep Espinal or Singer is if Hays or Hayes is hurt, or if Lodolo is hurt. In any case, Sal Stewart has to be on the WC roster, and needs to play.
My vote is for Greene and Littell or Lodolo to just pitch great and win it in two!
Yes – especially Singer, that’s how the short-series playoffs work. Singer wasn’t going to be a long relief option in any case.
Same for Sal, his bat is too valuable, and while a normal bias might prefer a utility like Espinal, unless there is an injury, they’ve got enough backups, and backups for backups, that keeping a power bat is for preferable.
Look at what Singer has done for the team this year. How do you tell him he’s not going he’s not going to be there? That doesn’t seem to be Tito’s m.o.
I would leave Singer off the playoff roster for the wildcard series but add him back if the Reds advance and plan to have him start on Saturday. He still gets to go with the team, but he’s likely unavailable until game three of the series, if then.
He’s a big boy and understands the mechanics of roster construction for the playoffs. He can’t pitch the next 3 days anyways, everyone else can. Plus WHEN the Reds beat the Dodgers, he will get the nod against the Phillies.
Kershaw, like Singer, pitched yesterday and is not on the Dodgers roster for this series. I would think the Reds would not put Singer on for this series. Hopefully Singer is on the roster for a series with Philadelphia.
I agree about Stewart. He has earned the right to be there. Benson should be there also. I like Espinal, but like you say, he hasn’t played much lately so leave him off. I am not sure I leave Singer off in case this goes more than 3 games.
It’s a best-of-3 series. No way there will be a game 4.
Ummmm, I hope a friend or relative didn’t sucker you into a bet where the series goes at least 4 games. Lol
My deletions would be Maxwell and either Singer or McLain. I would not give up Espinal. He can start at 2B or play any of the OF positions. McLain has no advantages over Espy other than speed and arm.
And the ability to hit the ball out of the infield if he actually does collect a hit.
So basically he has a fairly big advantage over Espinal.
Yeah. I mean McLain has been pretty bad, but Espinal is certainly not an upgrade.
McLain also has an intangible asset advantage over Espinal. He was the Reds’ first draft choice (#17 overall in 2021) with Nick Krall in charge of baseball ops. 😉
McLain is awful on the road in 2025. .193 average and .550 ops.
At Dodger stadium, .222 avg .444 ops. 2 hits, 0 walks, 0 XBH, 4 strikeouts. Not sure McLain could hit it out of the infield. He’s the biggest disappointment on this Reds team in 2025. His performance has earned him a backup role.
“McLain has no advantages over Espy other than speed and arm.”
McLane is faster, has a higher OAA, is younger, is cheaper, will likely improve, AND… even with McLane’s less than stellar offensive season, he easily out hit Espy.
Soooooo,,,,,,Matt McLain, who Tito clearly believes in and has started a majority of games, especially lately, sits at home and Espinal who plays as often as Herm Winningham lately (and I mean lately), makes the rotser and starts at 2nd base????? huh?
Soooooo,,,,,let me get this straight. You would remove the regular starting second baseman all season OFF the playoff roster, one who Tito clearly believes in through thick and thin, and replace him in the starting lineup with someone who has played exactly the same games as Herm Winningham lately (and I mean lately). The same player who has 15 less home runs and 16 less stolen bases???? What?????
McLain is down this season but, Espinal is so much better. Hey someone tell Tito and Krall, they are clueless.
You can say that again.
I’d love the Reds leaves those arrogant Dodgers out…
I hope Greene-Elly dúo being the factor to surprise and they take away the first game
Does anyone know about when we’ll find out the roster picks for the series?
They have to be finalized tomorrow morning (I’ve seen 10am and 11am listed, but no time zone was included – so let’s just say you’ll probably know before noon ET).
Greene deserves this start and the accolades. I have confidence in him. I hope we can give him 3-5 runs of offense and I feel great with what Greene can do to get us a W.
I would guess that Blake Snell would be the Dodgers starter in game one.
He’s left handed. A problem for Cincinnati this year.
In his last three starts (last one, September 24 against the Diamondbacks), game up 1 run in 6 innoings. The other two starts gave up NO runs.
Duh, I did not read the last post, in which Doug Gray actually says this about Blake Snell.
Well, shoot. Anyways, I wrote the above without reading the last post about “What You Need to Know….”
Never mind.
The Reds could have the best Offense in Baseball and Snell could still shut them out or keep them to a run or two. He is right there in that Ace category.
The odds are that the Reds don’t score more than a run or two against Snell the way they’ve hit Lefties this season. Not trying to be pessimistic, but the Reds literally have been uncompetitive against almost any decent Left Handed Pitcher this year and Snell is really good.
But that being said! If the Reds can scratch out 2-3 runs and Greene is great, of course they could win this game. I’m not sure about Hays in Left Field with his back spasms. But maybe if he’s healthy, and then Andujar if he can get a few big hits, you never know, they could score enough to win a close game.
Greene is obviously Ace material, but we’ve never seen him in quite this big a game. It’s going to be interesting to see how he pitches. Hopefully he pitches great.
I wonder if he pitches 6-7 innings and the Reds are winning a close game, do they bring in Chase Burns? I think overall you’d save Burns for Game 2, but I could see the Reds kind of playing Game 1 like a must win elimination game if they have a lead in the 6th, 7th inning.
Santillan, Pagan really had good season, and you’re going to need them to be good in the playoffs, and Ashcraft solid overall, but I think Burns is the key late in a must win game. That’s why I’d consider him if possible in Game 1 going 2 innings or so to close it out. But I don’t know, I could be off on that opinion too. I’d understand giving it to Pagan in the 9th as he’s been the closer all year.
Remember 26 does NOT have to equal 13 + 13. It’s a short series and we can reset for the next round if we can take care of business.
Another benefit of the Reds making the postseason is it may help attract free agents this winter.
…if ownership will spend a little money! 🙂
Sign the Polar Bear Pete Alonso as the Reds DH in the offseason!
Jeremiah—Pete didn’t seem happy after the game yesterday at all. Like he wished he was somewhere else already. Where he lands I have no clue
Somewhere, with a boat load of $$$.
The Reds do not have any chance of that.
“a little” is the operative phrase
IMO ownership will continue their miserly ways next year. They and a lot of teams and at least one fan will be hoping when the dust settles after the CBA teams like the Reds are able to compete and maybe sign a star player without having to surround said star player with AAA players.
It’s been a while, but wasn’t the old 3-game playoff 1-1-1 not 3-0? 5 was 2-2-1, and 7 was 2-3-2? Again it’s been a while.
I thought the old 3-game playoff used to be 1-2, but could be misremembering.
A little disappointing Reds don’t have an opportunity for a home playoff game, but it’d be pretty exciting if they could beat the Dodgers and host at least one game against the Phillies.
I understand Baseball expanding the playoffs. It gives teams like the Reds, Giants, DBacks down the stretch interest and hope when in the past they’d be pretty much done a month ago.
But then only having 2 games is a little wimpy I think in some ways. It’d be nice if you got in you had the chance to at least play 3 playoff games, kind of see whose pitching staff is good enough over a 5 game series, who has the better full roster. Short series probably benefits the lesser teams such as the Reds actually to pull off an upset.
That’s definitely the way the minor league playoffs works, 1-2, today. Remember that the 2020 Reds vs Braves the first 2 games were at Atlanta. Now lets forget about that series!
I remember it that way, LDS.
The first game is so huge. I’m thinking Tito could move Friedl from the leadoff spot against Snell, so he has to face more righties in the first innings and trying to score before the Dodgers that maybe could help mentally and it would be a pressure factor to the Dodgers if they are trailing while the game progresses counting on Greene pitching a very good game of course. . Reds have no pressure , they aren’t favorites and haven’t a monster payroll to justify either. They should be creative and find the way to generate discomfort into Dodgers and winning the first game is a key…..
Though I don’t know about this year, Friedl has had reverse splits before. His OBP is also 2nd best on the team. I’d leave him in the leadoff spot.
Friedl’s reverse splits have evaporated this year.
His 2025 triple slash versus RHP is .268/.378/.394 (OPS=.772).
His 2025 triple slash versus LHP is .243/.330/.341 (OPS=.671).
Have we heard if Hays is healthy enough to start and play LF ? He seems risky to commit a spot to in a 3 day playoff with no days offwgen hes not been in the starting lineup and proven healthy
If not, he s not on the roster and the power righty bats of Steer Andujar marte and Sal fall into line.
Espinal has given the Reds very little over the past month or two. I feel like if you make it to a third game then you have to be thinking of saving Singer for Game 1 in Philadelphia so no reason to include him .
Read several comments suggesting leaving Singer off the roster. Not sure you want to do that. Remember 2012 and losing Cueto six pitching into the first game in SF?
If Lodolo were to suffer a recurrence of that groin tweak or a blister on that throwing hand, I’d like to have Singer to come in rather than using multiple relievers attempting to get to Pagan or Santillan.
Ive made same comment richard
May need singer on thursday for 3 innings . Probably not but need to plan for all scenarios
Scott Scudder was big game 2 1990 WS when it became a bullpen game and Billy bates last roster guy scored the winning run
Ive also said for same insurance reason espinal will be on roster if someone in middle corner infield pulls a hammy or gets A blake snell fb to the wrist
Why u buy health insurance and car insurance and life insurance
Things happen
Littell or Nick Mart could step in for 3 innings.
If Clayton Kershaw was taken off the Dodgers roster for the first series, I think the Reds could take off Singer for the first round. You do realize he can be added after the first round. Singer will not be available for a few days. We need a full roster of arms ready to go.
Richard – wouldn’t an injury allow for a replacement? Doesn’t make sense that a team would have to play short handed in that scenario. If someone gets hurt you could add back Singer, or anyone else.
Tito’s massive gamble paid off – having Greene ready to pitch game one.
If I were the Reds players, the rather dismissive treatment by the baseball press would motivate me. Yes, I know conventional wisdom says the Reds don’t have a snowball’s chance down below, but it’s the Dodgers. Beating the Dodgers should be part of the Reds DNA.
Nothing wrong with a chip on their shoulders. They are cockroaches, after all. Whoever said in the post game shenanigans that the Dodgers have far more to lose than the Reds had it right. Francona will rightfully play that at full volume.
Wild-card series
Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
Game 1: Tuesday
Game 2: Wednesday
Game 3: Thursday*
We don’t even get one home game in the wild card round…
the asterisk means “if necessary”. HA !
If the Reds beat the Dodgers, which they can, we know they can beat the Phillies.
The Reds can beat every team in the playoffs. Are they likely to? It’s an uphill climb. But it is possible. Winning tonight is very important.