The Cincinnati Reds are gaining some reinforcements as they proceed their quest for a Nationwide League wild-card berth.

The Reds (73-71) will get beginning pitcher Hunter Greene again from the COVID-19 checklist Sunday as they attempt to keep away from getting swept by the visiting St. Louis Cardinals (63-79) within the finale of a three-game collection.

The Cardinals received the primary two video games of the collection 9-4 and 4-3. They enter play Sunday 2 1/2 video games out of the third NL wild-card spot.

“I am so pleased with our gamers, how we proceed to play,” Reds supervisor David Bell mentioned. “We now have by no means, not from the very starting, did we ever ask for it to be straightforward. Ever. We’ll proceed to play arduous. We now have a protracted, lengthy strategy to go and we have now a chance in entrance of us.”

Greene (3-6, 4.75 ERA) final pitched on Aug. 30 at San Francisco. He earned a 4-1 victory over the Giants by permitting one unearned run on three hits in 5 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one.

In his prior two video games, Greene allowed 14 runs (13 earned) on 15 hits and eight walks in simply 6 2/3 innings after lacking two months of motion on account of a hip damage.

“Hunter missed plenty of the season,” Bell mentioned. “He expects himself to pitch effectively proper out of the gate. However he needed to work by some issues his first two begins.”

In his earlier begin in opposition to the Cardinals this season, Greene allowed three runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings on June 11. He struck out 9 and walked two in a sport the Reds finally received 4-3.

Greene is 0-2 with a 4.01 ERA in 5 profession begins in opposition to the Cardinals.

The Reds might additionally get slugger Joey Votto again to energetic responsibility. He has been sidelined by shoulder discomfort, however he returned to motion with a short rehabilitation stint at Triple-A Louisville.

“He needed to make use of these two days to go get some at-bats,” Bell mentioned earlier than Votto joined Louisville. “He’ll possible be again on Sunday and be within the lineup that day. He’s feeling higher.”

Votto’s return could be welcomed by an offense additionally lacking Matt McLain (indirect pressure), Kevin Newman (indirect pressure) and Jonathan India (plantar fasciitis). Noelvi Marte (facial contusion) additionally might miss time after getting hit within the face with an errant throw earlier than Saturday’s sport.

The Cardinals will counter Greene with Miles Mikolas (7-10, 4.63 ERA), who’s coming off a 10-6 victory over the Atlanta Braves. He allowed three runs, all on solo homers, in 6 2/3 innings. He allowed eight hits general and walked two to report his first victory since July 17.

“Making an attempt to maintain them off the bases, so in the event that they hit one it is a solo homer, I assume,” Mikolas mentioned afterward. “However I feel the essential factor is to remain within the zone. Cowards die a thousand deaths. So, the great factor to be there’s aggressive, be within the zone, and take the battle proper to them.”

Mikolas is 1-1 with a 3.46 ERA in opposition to the Reds this season and 4-6 with a 5.18 ERA in 18 profession video games in opposition to the Reds, together with 16 begins.

The Cardinals have received 5 of six video games with an energized offense. Willson Contreras has homers in his previous three video games and 9 RBIs throughout that span.

“He is feeling actually good, swinging the bat extraordinarily effectively,” Cardinals supervisor Oliver Marmol mentioned. “He is doing a very nice job offensively.”

—Area Degree Media