Matt’s Take: With Hunter Greene out, now what?

By Matthew McAdow
HCP columnist

Unfortunately for the Reds, Hunter Greene has become the Joe Burrow of Cincinnati baseball.  

Amazing stuff and elite ace when he is healthy, but once again, he will be missing time to begin the season – and it doesn’t sound promising. I expect him to start the season on the injured list, as his right elbow is hurting him yet again. 

He stated he had this at the end of last season and my thoughts immediately surround the fact that they should’ve worked on fixing this issue after the playoffs last year. By sitting and waiting, we are now looking at missing our ace for an extended period of time.  

Luckily for Cincinnati, they still have Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns, as well as Brandon Williamson to fill this void. Injuries are going to occur, but the reoccurring injuries of Hunter Greene are more than a concern at this point.  

Luckily for the Reds, they maintained their core starters and it will benefit them to begin the season. I predict the rotation (if healthy) will begin the season as follows: Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Nick Lodolo and Chase Burns. 

Tough decisions ahead for the Reds

With 45 players remaining in Major League Ccamp, Cincinnati will have some tough decisions to get this roster down to 40. More importantly, the 26-man roster to begin the season is up for grabs. 

Prediction: Starters – Abbott, Singer, Lowder, Lodolo, Burns.
            
Bullpen – Pagan, Santillan, Ferguson, Johnson, Burke, Williamson, Antone, Ashcraft.

Position players – Stephenson, Trevino, Stewart, Suarez, Marte, Steer, McLain, De La Cruz, Hayes, Benson, Bleday, Friedl, Myers.

This would mean that CES, Hinds, Lowe and Hampson wouldn’t make the roster.  Maybe Cincinnati doesn’t let both Benson and Bleday make the roster, but I think they will. This would mean Lowe would hit the market elsewhere, however.  

As always, more injuries or issues could arise before the start of the season.  

High and low 

For Cincinnati, there are many players that I am currently high on and think will have bounce-back or continued good seasons. There are others that I expect a drop in production, although I hope I am wrong.  

High – McLain, Burns, Stewart, Steer, De La Cruz.

Low – Abbott, Trevino, Hayes, Friedl.   

I just don’t see Abbott having that type of production again, as well as what Friedl did before the All-Star Break last year.