Reds' Hunter Greene Says 'Never Give Up' After Bounce-Back Start amid MLB Playoff Race

Coming off his worst start of the season and with the Cincinnati Reds still clinging to life in the NL wild card race, Hunter Greene delivered arguably his best performance of 2025 in a complete-game shutout win over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Greene celebrated the moment with a post on X, writing "never give up" along with an image of him walking off the mound at the end of the game.

Greene had his shortest outing of the season in his last start on Sept. 13. He made it through 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in an 11-5 loss to the Athletics.

The Reds have been frustratingly inconsistent throughout the year, but especially since September started. They entered Thursday with a 7-8 record this month that includes two three-game losing streaks sandwiched by a 4-1 stretch from Sept. 6-10.

Even though the Cubs had clinched a playoff spot on Wednesday, they had most of their regulars in the lineup for the series opener against Cincinnati. The only key starter who sat out was Kyle Tucker, who has been on the injured list since Sept. 9 due to a calf injury.

Greene stepped up when his team needed him by allowing just one hit and striking out nine in a 1-0 win on Thursday. It was his first nine-inning complete game in the big leagues. He previously had a rain-shortened complete game of seven innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks during his rookie year in 2022.

With the exception of the game against the A's, Greene has been outstanding in September. The 26-year-old has allowed one run or fewer in three of his four starts this month.

Since returning from a two-month IL stint due to a groin injury on Aug. 13, Greene has a 2.79 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 26 hits allowed over 42 innings in seven starts.

The Reds are 5-2 in those seven games and moved back over .500 at 77-76 after Thursday's win. They are only two games behind the New York Mets for the final playoff spot in the NL with nine games remaining.

New York will end the season with three games each against the Washington Nationals, Cubs and Miami Marlins.

The Reds will close out the regular season with three more games against the Cubs this weekend, followed by three games each against the Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers.

Cincinnati is looking for its first winning season since 2023 and first postseason appearance since 2020.