‘good’ news on groin, epidural in back

DETROIT – As the Cincinnati Reds prepared in Detroit to play the best team in baseball this year, the best pitcher on the roster met one more time with specialists in Los Angeles on Friday night.

Bottom line for now: team officials still had no idea what the timeline might be for ace Hunter Greene getting back on a mound to throw a bullpen session, much less his timeline for returning from the injured list.

“I think we’ll have a plan of action after they (meet),” manager Terry Francona said.

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Greene has been sidelined since aggravating the Grade 1 groin strain June 3 at which time he also reported back and hip discomfort. An initial MRI on the groin showed a Grade 1 level strain again.

Francona said Friday new imaging showed “no change,” which was “good,” and that Greene had an epidural shot for the back, “just because he’s down (anyway) so there’s no reason not to.”

The back and hip issue isn’t expected to linger. Doctors determined it was the result of compensating to pitch with the groin issue.

Greene (4-3, 2.72 ERA in 11 starts) spent 15 days on the IL last month for the original groin strain then aggravated it in his third start back.