Can they escape Cincinnati at .500?
Hunter Greene came out of the gates on fire to start the 2025 season, striking out 5 of the first 6 batters he faced (and ultimately 7 of the first 10). The San Francisco Giants eventually tagged him for a 2-run homer as part of his 5.0 IP, 8/1 K/BB outing on Opening Day, but the overall stuff Greene flashed looked as electric as it has ever been.
The Cincinnati Reds will look to Greene to channel that again on Wednesday afternoon in the series finale against the Texas Rangers, who defeated the Reds 1-0 on Tuesday night behind a brilliant complete game shutout by Nathan Eovaldi. Despite the Reds absolutely obliterating Kumar Rocker and Co. in the series opener on Monday, that means today is the make or break rubber match in the quick three-game series.
For the Reds, who lost two of three to the Giants in the season opening series, that means today serves as their final chance to make this opening homestand something other than a losing one. Considering next up is a trip to Milwaukee to face an already-reeling Brewers club, getting out of town without already being behind the eight-ball would certainly seem to be advantageous.
The Rangers, meanwhile, will turn to Rocker’s former co-ace at Vanderbilt in Jack Leiter, who tossed perhaps the best game of his young MLB career in his first start of the season. The former 2nd overall draft pick struggled with command throughout his rookie campaign, but already appears to have turned a corner at the still young age of 24.
First pitch is set for 12:40 PM ET on FanDuel Sports Ohio.