Reds may have an outside-the-box answer to their looming Chase Burns dilemma

Chase Burns has been the Cincinnati Reds' ace this season, and in many years, would be in contention for the NL Cy Young Award. Though Burns is likely to receive some down-ballots for the Cy Young this season, an impending innings-limit could be a key reason he's unlikely to be among the finalists.

This issue has caused some consternation among Reds fans of late. "The Cowboy" Jeff Brantley mentioned the idea of Burns' innings-limit during a recent broadcast, and manager Terry Francona even addressed the issue ahead of the team's series finale against the New York Mets.

"I would certainly be open to listening to the trainers and certainly DJ. I also think guys show you if they need a blow or if they don’t. If you see pitchers losing range of motion, or if their delivery is lower — with analytics you can really track that stuff now— that’s more important than a hard pitch count or a hard innings limit. It’s how guys are doing," Francona told Cincinnati reporter Charlie Goldsmith.

For now, it seems as if Francona isn't committing to an innings-restriction. That's certainly admirable, and probably the correct approach. But if Burns continues to tally six innings per start, he'll be close to 150 innings pitched by the end of July. Having thrown less than 110 innings in 2025, it's difficult to see the fireballer going much past 140 innings this season.

Thankfully a temporary solution could be on the horizon, and it involves another Wake Forest alum. Reds' right-handed pitcher Rhett Lowder is set to begin a rehab assignment, perhaps as soon as next week, and that could lead Francona and the coaching staff to ponder a six-man starting rotation.

Rhett Lowder's return could force Reds to use a six-man rotation

The idea of having six starters on the roster is not a foreign one; in fact, the Reds were going to use that type of alignment at the outset until Nick Lodolo was placed onto the injured list with a blister issue.

Most Reds fans will probably recall that Francona's plans to begin the 2026 season was to have Burns, Lodolo, Lowder, Brady Singer, Brandon Williamson, and Andrew Abbott on the Opening Day roster. Given the current roster construction, the Reds could swap out Williamson (who's on the 60-day IL) for Chris Paddack, and once again move forward with six starters.

There's a number of moving parts with this type of strategy, not the least of which would be the reduction of available bullpen arms. Having six starters on the roster means seven relievers instead of eight, and that's something that could make navigating a six-man rotation difficult.

Some fans might suggest a piggyback situation between Burns and another starter. That's certainly an option, but if you'd ask former Reds' ace Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners about such a plan, it's not likely to receive a ringing endorsement. Seattle has been piggybacking Castillo alongside Bryce Miller and neither pitcher is enthusiastic about the situation.

Whether fans like it or not, Burns' inning-limit will continue to be a talking point throughout the season, though Hunter Greene's impending return later this summer could have a ripple effect. Greene threw his first bullpen session since undergoing elbow surgery back in March, and he's still on track to return sometime around July.

For now, Francona appears content to send Burns out to the mound every fifth day. But at some point, the flame-throwing phenom will need to take his foot off the gas.

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