Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said Thursday young ace Hunter Greene remains on track to return to the rotation Sunday in St. Louis after faring well in a light throwing session Wednesday – setting the stage for an odd-man-out decision between struggling starters Brandon Williamson and Graham Ashcraft.
That made Thursday’s start against the Los Angeles Dodgers potentially critical for Ashcraft, who has given up 38 earned runs with eight homers and averaged barely four innings a start over his previous six starts (12.99) ERA, after a sparkling opening six starts (2.00) this year.
Williamson, the lefty who debuted last month, got hit hard early in Wednesday’s start against the Dodgers (six runs in the first three innings, including three homers) but was given extra leash for lack of options that early in the game and retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.
“We wouldn’t have made it through the game potentially without him doing what he did,” Bell said after the Reds came back to win on Will Benson’s walk-off home run in the ninth.
Greene made two exceptional road starts at Wrigley Field and Fenway Park before missing his last scheduled start due to hip stiffness.
“He felt good (Wednesday) and responded well (Thursday) morning,” Bell said. “So that’s a great sign.”
Greene (1-4, 3.92) is expected to throw another side session Friday ahead of Sunday’s return.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds rotation changes coming as Hunter Greene returns