The Cincinnati Reds are set to face the National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs in a pivotal three-game series at Great American Ball Park, starting Friday, May 23, 2025. This series marks the return of Reds ace Hunter Greene from the 15-day injured list, a development that has fans and analysts buzzing with anticipation. Greene’s comeback is a critical boost for Cincinnati as they aim to close the gap with the division-leading Cubs. Greene, a first-time All-Star in 2024, has been sidelined since May 7 due to a Grade 1 right groin strain sustained during a start against Atlanta. Before the injury, the 25-year-old right-hander was dominant, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.36 ERA over 45.2 innings, striking out 61 batters while issuing just eight walks, and maintaining a stellar 0.81 WHIP. His return on Friday, confirmed by manager Terry Francona, follows a successful 35-pitch simulated game on May 18, where Greene reported no discomfort and easy velocity. Francona’s confidence in Greene’s readiness underscores the pitcher’s meticulous preparation, including a bullpen session in Pittsburgh this week. Facing the Cubs, Greene brings a strong track record. He is 4-1 with a 4.06 ERA in seven career starts against Chicago, including a standout performance on May 26, 2023, when he tossed six no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts in a 9-0 victory at Wrigley Field. However, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki poses a challenge, hitting .462 with two homers in 13 at-bats against Greene. Chicago will counter with left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-2, 2.98 ERA), who has struggled in Cincinnati, going 0-3 with a 9.69 ERA in four career starts. The Reds’ rotation for the series is formidable, with Andrew Abbott (3-0, 1.80 ERA) and Nick Lodolo (4-4, 3.22 ERA) slated for Saturday and Sunday. Cincinnati, sitting at .500, sees this series as a chance to gain ground in the NL Central, especially with two of their next four series against the Cubs. Greene’s return injects energy and leadership into a young Reds squad, and his performance could set the tone for a crucial stretch. With the Cubs riding high, this matchup promises high-stakes baseball, with Greene’s electric arm at the forefront.

The Cincinnati Reds’ recent series loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in May 2025 at PNC Park highlighted both their persistent offensive struggles and the resilience of their pitching staff, casting a shadow over their postseason aspirations. Entering the three-game set with a four-game winning streak and a .500 record, the Reds hoped to capitalize on the Pirates’ last-place standing in the NL Central. However, despite stellar pitching, the Reds dropped two of three games, falling to 25-26 and exposing critical weaknesses that could define their season. In the series opener on May 19, the Reds secured a convincing 7-1 victory, driven by a late offensive surge with five runs in the final two innings. Austin Hays’ three-hit performance and Nick Lodolo’s six strong innings set an optimistic tone. However, the momentum fizzled in the next two games. On May 20, Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter outdueled Nick Martinez, who allowed just one run over six innings, but the Reds’ offense was silenced in a 1-0 shutout. Bryan Reynolds’ RBI single in the sixth proved decisive, as Cincinnati managed only four hits. The series finale on May 21 saw another pitching gem wasted, with Brady Singer allowing two runs over five innings, but the Reds’ bats mustered just one run in a 3-1 loss to Andrew Heaney and the Pirates’ bullpen. The Reds’ offense was abysmal, scoring one run across the final 18 innings, with nine hits and a 1-for-10 mark with runners in scoring position. Manager Terry Francona, in his first year with Cincinnati, called it “just baseball,” but fans on X expressed frustration, labeling the team “mentally weak” for collapsing against a weaker opponent. Despite limiting Pittsburgh to five runs over the series, the Reds’ inability to produce timely hits underscored a season-long issue, with injuries to Jake Fraley and others not helping. On a positive note, the Reds’ starting pitchers posted a 1.70 ERA over their last seven games, and Hunter Greene’s imminent return from a groin injury offers hope. However, with a crucial stretch of division games ahead, including six against the first-place Chicago Cubs, the Reds must address their offensive woes to stay in the wild-card race. This series loss, while not catastrophic, serves as a stark reminder of the fine margins in a competitive season.

On May 20, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tightly contested 1-0 game at PNC Park, snapping their five-game winning streak. The loss, detailed across sources like ESPN and Redleg Nation, highlighted the Reds' struggle to capitalize on opportunities against a Pirates team desperate to end a four-game skid. Despite a strong pitching performance from Cincinnati’s Nick Martinez, Pittsburgh’s Bailey Falter stole the show, delivering seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts, allowing only four hits. The Pirates’ lone run came in the second inning, sparked by Oneil Cruz’s speed and a clutch hit, enough to secure the victory in a game that lasted just 2 hours and 22 minutes. The Reds, sitting at 25-24 and third in the NL Central, had been riding high after sweeping the Cleveland Guardians and defeating the Pirates 7-1 the previous night. However, their offense, ranked 12th in on-base percentage (.321) and 13th in slugging (.397), went silent. Key players like Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl, who hit a triple, couldn’t convert opportunities, with the team leaving runners stranded. Fans on platforms like Redleg Nation expressed frustration, noting the Reds’ inability to overcome Falter’s command and Pittsburgh’s opportunistic play. Comments like “Can’t be a good team and get shut out 25 times” reflected the disappointment in a game where Cincinnati’s bats failed to ignite. Martinez, despite the loss, was solid, continuing his recent form with a 2.05 ERA over his last five starts. He kept the Pirates’ offense, the league’s worst in runs scored (142) and slugging (.320), in check, but the early run proved decisive. Pittsburgh, at 15-33, capitalized on their home field, with Cruz’s two steals and two walks setting the tone. The game underscored the Reds’ inconsistency against weaker teams, as they had dominated Pittsburgh in four prior 2025 matchups, outscoring them 21-6. This loss, witnessed by 10,071 fans, exposed Cincinnati’s vulnerability in low-scoring affairs, despite their 19-5 record when scoring first. As the Reds prepared for the series finale, the focus shifted to rebounding offensively and leveraging their pitching depth, with Hunter Greene’s return looming. For a team aiming to climb the NL Central, overcoming such setbacks against struggling opponents like the Pirates is critical to sustaining momentum.