Hunter Greene was untouchable Friday night at Great American Ball Park. The Cincinnati Reds right-hander carved up the Chicago Cubs for seven innings, striking out 12 and allowing just three hits and one walk in a masterful 4-0 shutout victory on July 10, 2026. JJ Bleday launched a two-run homer, Elly De La Cruz added a solo shot, and the Reds bullpen slammed the door to complete the combined shutout in this NL Central rivalry game. Cincinnati owned the Cubs from first pitch to last.

Hunter Greene Delivers One of His Best Starts of the Season

There is no other way to say it — Greene was electric. He retired Chicago's lineup in order multiple times, worked efficiently, and never let the Cubs generate any real momentum. Twelve strikeouts over seven innings against a major league lineup is a performance that demands attention, and Greene got it done with command and pure stuff. He allowed only three hits and issued a single walk. Shota Imanaga took the loss for Chicago after surrendering seven hits and one earned run across five innings.

Brock Burke followed Greene with a clean eighth inning, striking out one while allowing one hit. Emilio Pagán then punctuated the evening by retiring all three batters he faced in the ninth, punching out all three for a perfect frame. The Reds did not allow a single run across nine innings of NL Central baseball.

Offense Got the Job Done Early and Late

The Reds lineup made life difficult for Cubs pitching all night. Spencer Steer went 3-for-4 and set the table consistently at the top of the order. Tyler Stephenson and Edwin Arroyo each collected two hits. Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-5 with a home run and one RBI. JJ Bleday delivered the biggest blow of the night, going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run that gave the Reds crucial insurance runs. Sal Stewart chipped in two hits and an RBI in three at-bats.

The Cubs managed two hits from Seiya Suzuki, but Chicago's offense never found a foothold against Greene's fastball and secondary stuff. Jake Woodford absorbed the worst of it in relief for the Cubs, allowing five hits and three earned runs over two innings.

Turning Point: De La Cruz and Bleday Provide the Power

While Greene's dominance set the tone, the game turned on the power display from De La Cruz and Bleday. The Reds manufactured four runs against Cubs pitching and made them stand up comfortably. Bleday's two-run shot off Woodford gave Cincinnati the kind of cushion that allowed Greene and the bullpen to pitch freely. In a 4-0 game, every run matters, and those two swings were the difference between comfortable and nervous.

Roster Notes Worth Watching

The Reds are navigating some roster movement heading into the weekend. Matt McLain was placed on the injured list, and his absence creates lineup considerations Cincinnati will need to manage going forward. On a more positive note, Ke'Bryan Hayes was reported to be returning from the injured list, which adds depth to the position player group. The organization also designated Will Benson for assignment earlier this month, a move that reflects the ongoing roster construction decisions this club is making mid-season.

Separately, Chase Burns — who made the All-Star team this season — continues to be one of the best stories in the National League. Burns has allowed two runs or fewer in 10 consecutive starts, a mark that ties Andy Coakley's 1908 streak for second-longest by a Reds pitcher since 1900. That run is a legitimate historical footnote, and it speaks to the caliber of pitching Cincinnati has at the top of its rotation.

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati will look to build on this shutout win and extend the series against Chicago at Great American Ball Park. The Reds handed the Cubs a clean zero on Friday — no runs, no momentum, no damage done — and the opportunity now is to make it a winning series against a division opponent. With Greene delivering this kind of performance and the lineup spreading hits around, the Reds have the pieces to make a statement this weekend.