The baseball world has been waiting for the arrival of golden-armed MLBbro Hunter Greene. He finally made his MLB debut for the rebuilding Cincinatti Reds this season and didn’t disappoint. In September, he gave the baseball world and opposing batters a taste of the filth he will be delivering from the hill for the next decade. Greene threw an MLB-record 47 pitches over 100 MPH. Double digit K games are normal for this gold slinger.
While his record was just 5-13 in 2021, Greene showed flashes of his potential dominance, striking out 164 batters in just 121 innings. When the team behind him improves, Green’s win total will elevate, and he will establish himself as one of the premier pitchers in the game. Expect to see some really special appearances from this young gunna in 2023.
Tonight, Hunter Greene takes the mound for the Cincinnati Reds as they take on Ke’Bryan Hayes and the Pittsburgh Pirates. While other teams around the league continue to battle for playoff positions, this matchup gives us an opportunity to watch two young studs who are looking to pull these former baseball powerhouses out of the MLB basement.
Both teams have had a few playoff appearances scattered across the past 15 years, but during the 1970s, this matchup was must-see TV. Over the course of that decade, the Reds and Pirates met in the NLCS four times. Hall-of-Fame MLBbro Joe Morgan and the legendary Big Red Machine would get the best of that matchup, taking three of those four NL pennants.
Morgan, who to many is the greatest second basemen of all-time, wasn’t the only OG MLBbro to call Cincy home in that era. Their outfield was composed of Ken Griffey Sr. and George Foster, with guys like outfielder Bobby Tolan and pitcher Tom Hall also helping to assist the Machine in their dominant decade.
As for those 70’s Pittsburgh Pirates, that team embodies the phrase “Soul Power” more than any other franchise in MLB history. Anchored by the late, great Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente, the Pirates made history by fielding the first all Black/Latino lineup in MLB history, something that has yet to be duplicated.
Dock Ellis was on the bump (no pun intended), with Willie Stargell, Dave Cash, Gene Clines, Rennie Sennett and Al Oliver all backing him up. The Pirates would eventually win a 10-7 slugfest against their Pennsylvania neighbors, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Although the Big Red Machine may have the catchier nickname and get mentioned more than the Pirates of the 70’s, both teams won two World Series championships during the decade. The Pirates went 2-0, winning in 1971 and 1979. The Reds would end up 2-2, losing in 1970 and ’72 before going back to back in 1975 and ’76.
Both teams went through tough times in the 80’s, with neither squad making the playoffs once. But in 1990, with each team once again being led by superstar MLBbros, the Reds and Pirates met in the National League Championship Series.
The Pirates were led by Barry Bonds and a supporting cast that included Bobby Bonilla and Lloyd McClendon, while the Reds had two young guns by the name of Eric Davis and eventual Hall of Famer Barry Larkin. The Reds went on to beat Pittsburg 4-2 before sweeping the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
Unfortunately for both cities, things took a turn for the worst after 1990. The Reds would add names like Deion Sanders and even hometown legend Ken Griffey Jr, but Cincinnati has only made the playoffs five times since that World Series victory.
In Pittsburg, Barry Bonds left for The Bay and nothing was the same. There have been some flashes of life, especially when Andrew McCutchen was manning centerfield. But just like Cincy the Pirates have managed to make the playoffs just five times since their NLCS match.
Fast forward to today, and both franchises are looking for pieces that can propel them to the heights they once reached. Hunter Greene has the potential to be an ace for the Reds, while Ke’Bryan Hayes has already received a contract extension to man the hot corner in Pittsburgh.
If these two teams are to return to glory, Greene and Hayes will be key pieces in the process.
Those 47 are the most ever tracked by Statcast in a single start.
He finished with a career high 11 strikeouts in six shutout innings and allowed just four hits as he got the no decision against the National League Central leading St. Louis Cardinals.
Greene’s no stranger to pumping gas on the mound and with the Reds out of contention his time off was more so for rest than anything else. the melanated mound marauder has found some consistency after showing flashes of brilliance early in the season.
His next start will come next Thursday against another playoff hopeful team, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Triston “Sticks” McKenzie
Triston McKenzie has now registered eight quality starts in a row and continues to be one of the biggest factors in Cleveland’s run to their first playoff berth since becoming the Guardians.
Friday McKenzie fought through a few struggles as his team was down 3-0 early, but he held Twins down long enough for his team to comeback and eventually win 4-3. McKenzie struck out eight hitters through seven innings and allowed seven hits. He didn’t walk a batter, which is a very positive sign.
With his Guardians being in the pennant chase for the American League Central, what McKenzie has done this season and particularly in September has been big. In three starts this month he is 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA, 18 strikeouts and a .216 batting average against.
Going back into August, McKenzie has a 2.84 ERA with 46 strikeouts and just 10 walks with a 2-3 record. His next start will have huge divisional implications. It will come against the Chicago White Sox who are only a few games behind Cleveland for the lead in the division.
Marcus Stroman
Marcus Stroman showed out in the Chi on the weekend of his bobblehead give-a-way. The Cubs ace had everything working, giving the Windy City fans a taste of what he can do when he’s healthy.
Bobblehead day at Wrigley today. Thankful to the @Cubs and the fanbase for all the love/support. It’s an honor to put on the jersey and compete in front of y’all! 🗣 pic.twitter.com/NkTXajuMZh
Friday afternoon, Stroman set down the final 11 batters he faced on his way to going seven innings and giving up just one run in a win against the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies did not get a hit against Stroman through the first 5.2 innings of the game as the movement by Stroman’s pitches kept batters on their heels the entire game.
Since the All-Star Break Stroman has a 3.03 ERA and with this being the first season of a four-year $71 deal, it’s great to see him close the year out on a high note.
With the announcement that MLBbro Cedric “CM Storm” Mullins would be participating for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, there are some other Bros who we would love to see suit up for their country.
Aaron Judge, Mookie Betts and Hunter Greene need to be locks for Team USA ahead of this summers’ WBC.
The international baseball extravaganza is the game’s biggest global event, as some of the best players across the Majors represent their home countries in a tournament held every four years.
MLBros surged USA to the gold in 2017. A home run robbery by former Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones in an elimination game and MVP Marcus Stroman who no-hit Puerto Rico in the Finals through six innings, led the way.
Never Forget when Adam Jones robbed Manny Machado in the World Baseball Classic 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DKDEquvGbL
The team has already announced outfielders Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, infielders Paul Goldschmidt, Trevor Story, Nolan Arenado and catcher J.T. Realmuto.
It was announced over the weekend that they will be managed by former 16-year veteran Mark DeRosa and his first order of business should be adding these three bros to his roster.
Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge stays humble, but we consider him the face of Major League Baseball after his demolition in 2022. When the Classic rolls around he’ll already have his first career MVP award and have signed the biggest bag this offseason.
Judge’s 46 home runs, 102 runs batted in, 98 runs scored and .654 slugging percentage all lead the league and he can find his name near the top of every offensive category outside of steals, which he has a personal career high of 13 this year.
Mookie Betts
(@mookiebetts) Mookie Betts With Message From The 2022 All-Star Game: “We Need More Black People In The Stadium”#MLBbro content reporter @_teammill gets this interview.
Mookie Betts sends a message and talks about his DJ skills and his favorite rapper. pic.twitter.com/nnTdS1Pal7
What better way for Mookie Betts to get his message of “WE NEED MORE BLACK PEOPLE AT THE STADIUM” across the world than to have him be a part of Team USA.
Betts is the best player on the best team in baseball, and although many have crowned Goldschmidt the National League MVP, do not count Mookie out just yet. He leads the NL in runs scored and is in the top ten in home runs, OPS and slugging percentage. Betts has been voted an All-Star in seven consecutive seasons while also having a MVP, five Gold Gloves and four Silver Sluggers on his resume.
Hunter Greene
This one may be a stretch, but it would be great for baseball to have what could be their next Black Ace pumping gas on the mound. Greene was a top pick in the 2017 draft but did not make his Major League debut until this season due to the Tommy John surgery he had back in 2019.
He has wasted no time getting acclimated to the Bigs.
In three of his starts this season, Greene has set records for most pitches thrown over 100 MPH in a start recorded in the stat cast error. His most dominant start of the season came back in May when he threw 7.1 no hit innings and has 17 games this season with at least six strikeouts.
Greene has been on the Injured List for a few weeks but threw a bullpen Sunday.
