The Reds intend to activate Burns (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Burns was cleared to resume throwing in mid-August and progressed to facing live hitters in early September. He's in the final stages of his recovery from a Grade 1 right elbow strain, and the 22-year-old looks poised to skip a rehab assignment and return to the majors as long as he gets through Tuesday's bullpen session without suffering a setback, per Wittenmyer. Burns started in all eight of his appearances with the Reds prior to his injury and posted a 5.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 34.1 innings, but manager Terry Francona has hinted at Burns working out of the bullpen for the tail end of the season.