4 Reds players who won't be on the roster by September 1st

The dog days of summer are here. The Cincinnati Reds are in a three-team fight for supremacy in the National League Central along with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs.

Thankfully, the Reds have returned from their 10-game roadtrip and will play 11 of their next 14 games at home. Additionally, Cincinnati is expecting some big returns this month. Hunter Greene, Tejay Antone, and perhaps Vladimir Gutierrez and Nick Lodolo will all be activated before September 1st.

If all four pitchers do return before the end of August, the Reds will need to make some room on the 40-man roster. Which four players will no longer be part of the Cincinnati Reds roster on September 1st.

1. Alan Busenitz will not be on the Reds roster by September 1st.

Alan Busenitz has provided some depth for the Cincinnati Reds pitching staff, but the right-hander has remained in Triple-A since being optioned back to Louisville in late-June. Busenitz has made four appearances on the season and owns a 4.50 ERA in the major leagues this season.

Busenitz, at 32 years old, does not look to be part of the Reds' long-term future. The ball club should be returning relievers Tejay Antone and Vladimir Gutierrez in the coming weeks, meaning that a pitcher like Busenitz can become expendable.

The Cincinnati Reds could designate Alan Busenitz for assignment, and assuming he passes through waivers, outright the right-hander back to the Louisville Bats roster. The Reds did the same thing with Ricky Karcher and Silvino Bracho earlier this season.

With those aforementioned pitchers still part of the organization, along with Kevin Herget, Ryan Nutof, and Randy Wynne, the Reds have enough fringe major league talent to stay afloat in the event of multiple injuries befalling the team down the stretch.