CINCINNATI -- Reds starting pitcher Hunter Greene is ready to resume his rookie year and pitch to the end of the regular season. Greene completed a three-start rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville to work his way back from a right shoulder strain.

Pitching Sunday vs. Columbus, Greene worked three innings while throwing 66 pitches. He allowed one earned run and four hits, with one walk and five strikeouts.

“I’m happy where I am and I'm looking forward to finishing the season strong,” Greene said.

Greene, 23, is expected to be activated from the injured list to pitch in the upcoming five-game series vs. the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. An exact start date was not revealed, but the Reds have a doubleheader on Saturday, which would have the right-hander pitching on five days' rest.

On the IL since Aug. 5, Greene made his last start for Cincinnati at Miami on Aug. 1. He worked six scoreless innings with one hit allowed in a 3-1 win, but did not recover well from the game.

Over his three starts for Louisville, Greene notched 15 strikeouts over seven innings. Reports to the club noted his velocity was strong and that he had an effective slider. 

“Going in, my biggest priority is making sure that I'm healthy,” Greene said. “I definitely had a focus on working on all my pitches and making sure those are tight so when I get back here, I feel like I haven't skipped a beat.”

The Reds’ top prospect entering the season, Greene has endured an up-and-down year with several bright moments and others that showed he still has room to improve. He is 4-12 with a 5.26 ERA in 20 starts, while leading the club with 127 strikeouts and 23 home runs allowed. His 102 2/3 innings are nearing his professional high of 106 1/3 set last season in the Minors.

Greene went only two innings in his first two starts with Louisville, and he felt tired after the second outing. So the Reds wanted him to have a third rehab start, and they were glad it went that route.

“Now he’s somewhere between maybe 70-80 [pitches] the next start, which will be here,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Taking the extra step given that he’s had quite a few innings under his belt for the year, so I think he can finish the season right where we want him to anyway. That’s important, but it’s also important for next year to get him to a certain point so we don’t have to consider the amount of innings he pitches next year, which will be great.”