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

2. Brett Kennedy will not be on the Reds roster by September 1st.

Brett Kennedy was a nice story earlier in the year, and the Cincinnati Reds may yet need his services once again this season. But if both Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are set to return before the end of August, it's quite likely that Kennedy's time on the 40-man roster will come to a close.

Kennedy was an emergency starter earlier this season. With his last action on a major league mound coming all the way back in 2018 as a member of the San Diego Padres, it was great to see the 28-year-old make his return this season.

Kennedy took the ball on Independence Day in our nation's capital and tossed five innings of four-run baseball while striking out three and walking two. Kennedy earned the win that day over the rebuilding Washington Nationals.

But since the Fourth of July, Brett Kennedy has been back in Triple-A, and just like Alan Busenitz, does little more than add depth to a Reds pitching staff that has seen a truckload of hurlers in the big leagues this season.

Brett Kennedy has 57 punch outs in over 60 innings of work down at Triple-A Louisville this season. Don't be surprised to the Reds designate Kennedy for assignment once Greene or Lodolo return from the 60-day IL. Kennedy can then accept an outright assignment and return to the Louisville Bats rotation over the final month of the season.