Williams: Cincinnati Reds have done their part. Now Hunter Greene need to do his

There's no sugarcoating this anymore.

It's long past go time for Hunter Greene to give the Cincinnati Reds what they're paying for after he's spent the better part of the last three months sidelined by what multiple medical opinions determined to be a mild groin strain.

In fact, it's go time like it's never been for Greene, who's scheduled to start against Philadelphia on Wednesday. The Reds on Monday began a telltale, six-game homestand against World Series contending Philadelphia and Milwaukee.

Greene rejoined the club at Great American Ball Park, but he was not available to the media before the game.

The Reds have the Hall of Fame-bound manager. They have the pitching to matchup against any team in October. They are playing better fundamental baseball than they did a year ago. They've bridged a long gap without the guy who's supposed to be their ace, sitting two games back in the National League wild-card race.

The Reds have given Greene a big, $53 million contract. Everyone in the organization has been beyond patient and let Greene go at his own pace and take the extra time he needed to get back. And not just this season, but also last year when he took extended time to return from a bruised elbow – another injury that was initially determined to be short-term.

The team has done its part.

Now Greene needs to do something for the team.

Veteran Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon of MLB.com summed up Greene perfectly in a piece last month, writing: "For a guy with a long-term contract who says he wants to be a leader, Greene needs to start showing it and get back on the field. When he is, he can be one of the best starters in baseball."

Greene is set up in a perfect position to be a difference-maker down the stretch for a team that opened the week with the toughest remaining schedule in the majors. He has a chance to play the hero role, helping to push the Reds into the postseason and win their first playoff series in 30 years.

How Greene responds could set the tone for the rest of his time in Cincinnati. He's never pitched a full season in the big leagues. His latest absence has kind of made him a forgotten man amid a stretch in which the Reds have made themselves relevant since Greene last pitched on June 3.

Greene has missed so much time, it's fair to question whether he should still be considered the Reds' ace. He has been the Reds' Opening Day starter two of the last three seasons.

But most would consider Andrew Abbott to be the Reds' ace currently, a role he's earned in Greene's absense. Abbott has built a reputation as a reliable guy who'll take the ball when asked, and the lefty has a 2.41 ERA through 21 starts of an All-Star season.

In fairness, no one in the Reds organization has questioned Greene's toughness. It's not the Reds' clubhouse culture to do that. Greene's teammates like him – and vice versa. Guys overcome injuries in different ways, and only the player knows exactly when he's ready and what he can and can't play through.

Some power pitchers may need extra time coming back from an injury to have full confidence in their stuff, given that hard throwers can be more prone to injury. It's something Reds leaders have talked about with Greene, who was in the Cy Young Award conversation last season until he took extended time returning from injury.

"We wouldn't start him if he wasn't (fully confident)," Francona said on Monday. "I don't think he's ready to be out to 100 pitches." In Greene's Aug. 8 rehab start, Francona added, "I think his last two innings, his velocity was more than his first couple innings. He sat at 99.5 (mph). He's probably feeling pretty good."

Contact columnist Jason Williams at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: It's go time for Hunter Greene to do his part in Reds' playoff push