Chase Burns injury news sparks wild theories among Reds fans

When news broke on Friday that Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns was headed to the injured list with a flexor strain, fans in the Queen City immediately feared the worst. After all, Burns is fireballer in every sense of the word, and pitchers who throw the ball at such high velocities can be prone to severe elbow injuries.

But after the dust had settled and manager Terry Francona spoke to the media, it was revealed that Burns suffered just a minor strain and there's hope that the rookie will only be on the IL for the 15-day minimum. That's quite the relief, isn't it?

But others throughout the Reds fanbase began to ponder a theory that Burns isn't really hurt at all, and that his placement on the IL is merely a way to help limit his innings heading into the final few weeks of the 2025 season.

Chase Burns injury news sparks wild theories among Reds fans

Social media is never one to disappoint when it comes to conspiracy theories, but in this instance, there's certainly some validity. Prior to Burns' placement on the IL, the Reds had yet to figure out how they were going to handle the starting rotation once Hunter Greene returned from his groin injury.

Before Burns' trip to the IL, the Reds had six starters vying for five spots — and if Nick Lodolo returns next week there'll be seven. Obviously Greene, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, and Zach Littell will be part of the Reds rotation, but Burns' presence on the active roster gave Cincinnati one too many starters.

Though Martinez can go back to the bullpen once Lodolo returns from his blister injury, the Reds seemed hestitant to use Burns as a reliever — at least in the typical sense. Burns has consistently operated as a starter this season, and switching up his routine midway through his first Major League campaign could be recipe for disaster.

With Burns not due back until after the rosters expand in September, Cincinnati could activate their former first-round pick and then go to a six-man rotation. At the very least, Burns could be utilized when the situation is favorable to both him and the ball club.

Is this a phantom trip to the IL? Those types of stunts have a tendency to get you in trouble — just ask former New York Mets GM Billy Eppler. Nevertheless, Burns' elbow injury appears to be quite minor, and he should be back in time to help give the Reds one last push toward the playoffs next month.

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