(Photo credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images)

The Cincinnati Reds send their ace to the mound in an effort to finish their first series sweep when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

The Reds have won four of five after Saturday's 5-2 win, while the Pirates have dropped three of four.

Hunter Greene (1-1, 1.31 ERA) makes his fourth start of the season and nearly earned his first career complete game shutout his last time out. On Monday in San Francisco, in a 2-0 win over the Giants, Greene allowed four hits while striking out seven over 8 2/3 shutout innings.

It was Greene's longest career scoreless start and the longest by a Reds pitcher since right-hander Tyler Mahle went nine innings on June 14, 2022, at Arizona. Greene became just the eighth pitcher since 1900 with 500 strikeouts and 175 or fewer walks through his first 75 career appearances.

'If I would have managed with my emotions, I would have left Hunter in,' Reds manager Terry Francona said. 'He deserved to finish that game. But there were two outs, and we needed that game. It was hard to take him out, but I think it was the right thing to do.'

With two outs, Greene gave up a hit and a walk. Francona brought in Tony Santillan, who registered the final out.

'When he came out (to the mound), he told me he didn't want to come out there, and I didn't want to come out (of the game),' Greene said of Francona. 'I'm uber competitive. I dream of games like today, but I know it won't be the last time. But I'm so glad the boys came through and we fought right to the end.'

Greene enters Sunday with 11 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings since allowing the lone run of the game on April 2 against visiting Texas.

Greene is 0-4 with a 3.00 ERA in seven career starts against the Pirates and Cincinnati has never won when Greene started against Pittsburgh.

The Pirates will counter with right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski (1-1, 5.19), who is making his third start of the season.

Against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Monday, Mlodzinski picked up the win, allowing one run and striking out six batters in a five innings.

Mlodzinski is 0-0 with one save and a 1.42 ERA in five career appearances, all in relief, against Reds. His save came on Sept. 23, 2023, in Cincinnati, when the Pirates rallied a 9-0 hole after three innings to win 13-12, staging Pittsburgh's largest come-from-behind win in 137 seasons.

The Pirates continue to struggle offensively. Saturday's 5-2 loss was the fourth straight game in which Pittsburgh has had six or fewer hits. The Pirates have the lowest batting average (.190) and slugging average (.297) in the majors.

'I think offensively we gotta continue to build,' Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. 'I think right now we're not really doing that. We have a bunch of guys that need to have more consistent at-bats.'

The Pirates are also dealing with injuries, as Nick Gonzales (left ankle fracture) has been on the injured list since the second game of the year. Oneil Cruz missed his third straight game due to a finger injury suffered in Tuesday's win over St. Louis.

Catcher Joey Bart missed Saturday's game after leaving in the second inning Friday night due to a back stiffness.

--Field Level Media