Key keywords: Hunter Greene, Cincinnati Reds, 15-Day Injured List, right elbow strain, 2024 MLB Regular Season, Reds Pitching Rotation, MLB Playoff Race, Cincinnati Reds Injury Updates The Cincinnati Reds officially announced on Wednesday that they have placed star right-handed starting pitcher Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 12, due to a mild Grade 1 right elbow strain, in a move that comes as a significant blow to the team’s 2024 postseason push. The decision follows Greene’s abbreviated start against the Chicago Cubs on August 11, where he was pulled after just three innings and 56 pitches after reporting tightness in his throwing elbow, with radar gun readings showing his signature four-seam fastball was down 3-4 mph from his usual 99-102 mph average. Post-game imaging confirmed the mild strain, with no structural damage to the ulnar collateral ligament or any other connective tissue, ruling out the need for surgical intervention for the 24-year-old ace. Greene, the second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, has been the anchor of the Reds’ pitching rotation this season, posting a 3.93 ERA across 30 starts, with 186 strikeouts in 162.1 innings pitched, and holding opposing hitters to a .219 batting average. The Reds currently sit second in the National League Central division, just 2.5 games behind the first-place Milwaukee Brewers, and hold the second National League Wild Card spot with six weeks remaining in the regular season, making Greene’s absence particularly notable as the team fights to lock down its first playoff berth since 2020. Reds manager David Bell told reporters during a Wednesday press conference that the team will take a cautious approach to Greene’s recovery to avoid long-term injury risk. “Hunter has been our most consistent starter all year, so this is obviously a setback, but we’re relieved this isn’t a more serious issue,” Bell said. “We expect him to return to the mound by mid-September, right as we head into the final stretch of the regular season, and we’re confident he’ll be ready to contribute if we make the postseason.” To fill the empty spot in the rotation, the Reds have recalled 25-year-old right-hander Lyon Richardson from Triple-A Louisville, who has posted a 3.21 ERA across his last 8 starts in the minor leagues. Greene also released a statement on his personal social media account, noting that he will follow the team’s medical protocol closely and work to return to the lineup as quickly as possible to support his teammates during the playoff race.