Chase Burns injury update is a win for Reds but not the solution

Cincinnati Reds rookie Chase Burns threw a bullpen session earlier this week, and if his recovery goes as planned, the fireballer will toss another on Saturday when the team returns to Great American Ball Park for their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Burns is currently on the injured list after being sidelined with a right flexor strain earlier this month — though many Reds fans assumed this was just simply a way to keep rookie hurler under his innings-restriction for the rest of the season. Burns has appeared in eight Major League games this season and has a 5.24 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 34⅓ innings pitched.

Cincinnati would certainly love to have Burns back on the bump at some point this season. While Reds manager Terry Francona has not yet provided a return date, he hasn't ruled out the right-hander's return either.

Chase Burns injury update is a win for Reds but not the solution

This has been an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Reds this season. Though the Cincinnati pitching staff has been relatively healthy throughout the 2025, the Reds began the year without Brandon Williamson, Julian Aguiar, and Rhett Lowder. Williamson and Aguiar will remain on the IL for the rest of the season, but there's a chance that Lowder could return next month.

Hunter Greene's two-month absence — along with Wade Miley's injury — is what opened the door for Burns in the first place. Nick Lodolo had a brief stint on the IL while dealing with a blister issue, but he returned to the mound on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Burns has been a bright spot for the Reds this season, but it's been the Cincinnati lineup that has grossly underperformed. Even if Burns returns to the mound — regardless of the capacity — it won't matter if the Reds can't score runs. It's hard to win games 1-0, but sadly, that appears to be the Reds' strategy of late.

Obviously getting Burns back would be a nice boost at the end of the season, but pitching has not been the Reds' undoing. If Cincinnati hopes to get back in the playoff hunt, calling up another young rookie — Sal Stewart — might be their only hope.

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