Hunter Greene is back, and the Reds need him to deliver down the stretch after a groin strain sidelined him for months. Cincinnati has patiently protected its young ace while Andrew Abbott stepped up as the true staff leader, but a six-game homestand against Phillies and Brewers tests the rotation and the team’s playoff odds. With a $53 million extension hanging over him, Greene faces pressure to become the difference-maker the franchise hoped for when he signed the deal. The Reds’ mix of depth and resilience has kept them in wild-card contention even as the rotation evolves without its top prospect.

Abbott has punctuated his breakout season with a sub-2.50 ERA across 21 starts, cementing himself as the frontman while Greene knocked on the door. Cincinnati’s path to October hinges on Greene rediscovering his live fastball and command, while the rest of the rotation holds up. The Phillies and Brewers loom as stern tests, and the Reds’ ability to ride Greene’s return—without overextending him—could define their postseason fate.