Hunter Greene injury might leave Reds with a reunion nobody wants to consider

The Cincinnati Reds might be without Hunter Greene for the remainder of the season. The fireballer landed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow soreness and is on his way to Los Angeles to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion. Andrew Abbott will take Greene's start on Thursday against the Athletics.

The Reds are likely to need a replacement if Greene's injury forces him to miss the remainder of the 2026 season. Though Nick Lodolo could return to the rotation next week, Cincinnati still has to deal with the reality that Chase Burns will be shut down at some point later this season due to an innings restriction.

The Reds need arms, and a familiar one just became available. The Washington Nationals designated Zack Littell for assignment on Wednesday, and assuming he passes through waivers, the right-hander will become a free agent. Littell has endured a horrific season in D.C., but the Reds are in no position to cast him (or any other veteran pitcher) aside.

Reds could reunite with Zack Littell amid Hunter Greene injury

Littell has been bad this season — really, really, bad. After inking a one-year, $7 million deal with the Nats this past winter, Littell has posted a 4.97 ERA and 5.76 FIP across 23 games, including 14 starts. While he has never been an elite strikeout pitcher, his 14.6% strikeout rate is the lowest of his career outside of a six-game stint with the Minnesota Twins in 2020.

Littell has maintained his command, as evidenced by his 7.3% walk rate. But that number is still higher than his career mark of 5.7%, and the right-hander only walked 4.2% of the batters he faced in 2025 while splitting time with the Reds and Tampa Bay Rays.

Nevertheless, Littell is a durable, reliable arm, which is more than Reds fans can say for about half of the current rotation. With the exception of Brady Singer, every single starter has spent time on the injured list over the past two seasons.

Though most fans skeptical about the Reds' playoff chances — and rightfully so — Cincinnati has been playing much better of late. They're just three games under .500 and five back of the final NL Wild Card spot. The Reds face a gauntlet during the final month of the season, but if they have any hope of contending down the stretch, they're going to need another arm or two with Greene on the IL.

Littell might not be much of an upgrade, but he's a warm body who has familiarity with the organization. Sadly, the Reds may have to take what they can get.

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