Burns (1-0) earned the win Monday against the Pirates, allowing no runs on one hit and three walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
It was a sparkling season debut for the hard-throwing right-hander, who held Pittsburgh to a lone single in the hit column. Burns touched 99 mph on his fastball on 10 occasions, producing an impressive 15 swings and misses on the evening as well. The righty is set for his next start later this week in Texas versus the Rangers, and Burnes will be looking to stretch out further after throwing 78 pitches Monday.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Will pitch fourth game
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Burns is scheduled to start the fourth game of the regular season, March 30, against the Pirates, Rich Rovito of MLB.com reports.
Burns was originally confirmed to be part of a three-pitcher crew that would combine to fill the fourth and fifth rotation spots, but plans changed when the Reds announced that Nick Lodolo (blister) will begin the regular season on the injured list. Burns, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson will now have their own spots in the rotation to begin the season. Burns finished off his preseason work Tuesday, tossing 68 pitches over five innings in an exhibition game against the Brewers.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Makes his first Opening Day roster
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Burns was told by the Reds that he has made the Opening Day roster, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Burns was informed along with fellow starters Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson. The three of them will occupy two rotation spots and back each other up in those spots due to their recent injury histories and/or lack of experience. Burns got his first big-league action in the second half of the 2025 season and struggled. The 2024 second overall pick started in eight of his 13 appearances and finished with a 4.57 ERA while compiling a record of 0-3. During spring training in 2026, the 23-year-old gave up four runs across 3.2 innings in one outing, but he has given up no more than one run in his other three.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Not yet locked in for Opening Day
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The Reds could elect to hold Burns off the Opening Day roster to ensure he has enough time to ramp up to a starter's workload, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Burns was held to a 24-pitch outing Friday after the Reds didn't like the right-hander's arm movement early in his start, and Rosecrans notes that because Burns may not be as stretched out as some of the other starters, the club could decide to give him a few more chances to ramp all the way up before sending him out on a big-league mound. However, it's important to point out that this is simply a roster projection for a player who will be heavily involved in Cincinnati's pitching plans for 2026. Outside of Friday's appearance, the Reds have been quite pleased with Burns so far this spring, with the team stating earlier Monday that the 23-year-old's Sunday bullpen session went very well, per Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Short outing Friday
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Burns allowed one hit and struck out two over two scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against the Giants.
At a stage in spring training when most starters are ramping up to four or five innings, Burns was intentionally held back in his fourth Cactus League start Friday. Reds manager Terry Francona discussed the pitcher's usage with Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "This kid is still working through some of his routines and stuff," Francona said. "And he had a good five days with the trainers working on the flexibility and the mobility. We just want to make sure. He's good to go. It might cost him an inning, but he's OK." Burns' previous outings were marked by falling behind hitters and running into trouble, so his 17 strikes over 24 pitches Friday were a good sign. Francona confirmed that Burns will still be stretched out as a starter going forward, which means he's still in the mix for one of two available rotation spots along with Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Mixed results Thursday
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Burns allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five over 2.1 innings in Thursday's spring start against the Padres.
Burns' slider played well and his pitch count increased to 48 in his second Cactus League start, but his four-seamer was wayward. He threw just 26 strikes and fell behind against multiple batters. That includes the first at-bat of the third inning, when Rodolfo Duran took two four-seamers for balls before drilling a third for a home run. Burns remains in the hunt for the final spot in the rotation.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Starts spring opener
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Burns walked three and did not allow a hit while striking out two over two scoreless innings as the starting pitcher in Saturday's spring opener against the Guardians.
Reds manager Terry Francona wasted little time in getting three of the four candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation some game action. Burns, Rhett Lowder and Julian Aguiar all were used for two-inning stints in the Cactus League kickoff. Burns overcame a couple of four-pitch walks in the first inning and a two-out walk in the second while working his pitch count up to 37 (15 strikes). He used a new in-development changeup to induce a weak flyout to center field. "My changeup was really good. It gives me a lot of confidence," Burns told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com after the contest. Working on secondary pitches have been a focus for Burns in early in camp as the right-hander looks to expand an arsenal that includes a four-seamer, slider and sinker.
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Reds' Chase Burns: In mix for rotation
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Burns will compete for the fifth starter's role during spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He showed improvement with his changeup during a two-inning live batting practice session on Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports.
Burns experienced just about everything a pitcher can during his first year of professional ball in 2025, hitting three levels of the minors before making his MLB debut with the Reds. He also experienced an injury, time on the injured list and returned to pitch as a reliever over the final weeks of the regular season and into the postseason. The right-hander held his own for the most part and can leverage that experience to compete for the final rotation spot. His fellow candidates for the job are Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar (elbow). Burns possesses an elite four-seamer and slider (43.9 Whiff%) and has succeeded thus far on the strength of those two pitches, but adding a useful changeup or cutter could take him to another level.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Will return to bullpen
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Burns (elbow) will initially pitch out of the bullpen upon his expected activation Friday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Burns will be limited in his innings and usage but could make a serious impact as a reliever. The right-hander can pair a triple-digit fastball and wipeout slider in short outings. Burns has worked his way back from a flexor tendon strain that's kept him on the injured list since Aug. 15 (retroactive to Aug. 12).
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Reds' Chase Burns: Facing live hitters
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Burnes (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday and will throw another later in the week, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
The right-hander is working his way back from an elbow strain and appears to be on the cusp of returning to game action. If Burns comes out of his two sessions this week with no issues, and he could then head out on a rehab assignment before potentially rejoining the Reds in the second half of September.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Bullpen scheduled Saturday
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Burns (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Burns threw a bullpen session without any issues Tuesday and is working his way back to active status. Per the report, an estimated timeline indicates he could possibly return by the end of the season.
Reds manager Terry Francona said that Burns (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Burns will throw off the mound for the first time since he was placed on the 15-day injured list Aug. 15 due to a Grade 1 right flexor strain. The rookie lacks a clear timeline to return from the IL, but the Reds could accelerate his activation if they elect to bring him back as a reliever.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Set to resume throwing Monday
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Reds manager Terry Francona said in an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Burns (elbow) will resume a throwing program Monday.
Burns landed on the 15-day injured list Friday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right flexor strain, but the fact that the rookie has already been cleared to throw backs up the Reds' optimism that the righty is not facing an extended absence. When Burns returns from the IL, he could be deployed in relief, as the Reds have a bevy of other rotation options and also want to manage the 22-year-old's workload.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Could miss only a couple weeks
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Manager Terry Francona said Friday that the "best case" scenario is Burns (elbow) will be on the injured list for only a couple of weeks, and Burns could start throwing again this week, Charlie Clifford of NBC5 Cincinnati reports.
Burns was placed on the injured list Friday morning, retroactive to Aug. 12, with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. Francona noted that Burns, who will be under a workload restriction for the rest of the 2025 season, was slated to pitch out of the bullpen Wednesday but reported shoulder stiffness. Further evaluation revealed the strain. Team doctors believe Burns avoided serious injury, though. The rookie flamethrower could resume throwing in the coming days and could return before the calendar flips to September.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Facing innings limit
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Reds manager Terry Francona said he met with Burns on Monday to discuss how to handle workload restrictions with the pitcher down the stretch, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
What exactly those workload restrictions will look like is not clear, but with Hunter Greene (groin) rejoining the rotation Wednesday and Nick Lodolo (blister) possibly back next week, Burns could be booted from the Reds' rotation soon. The team doesn't want to completely shut Burns down, so it might have to get creative with his usage. Burns has totaled 100.1 innings this season between the majors and minors after throwing an even 100 last year at Wake Forest. The young righty's next start is tentatively lined up for Friday against the Brewers.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Start suspended during first inning
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Burns' start against Atlanta on Saturday has been suspended due to inclement weather, Gabe Burns of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Burns tossed one perfect inning before the suspension, striking out two batters.
After a rain delay lasting well over an hour, Burns took the mound in the first inning and mowed down Atlanta in order on 18 pitches. That will likely end up being the extent of his outing, as the contest has been suspended. Though the matchup will resume Sunday afternoon, Burns is unlikely to retake the mound.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Records just one out
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Burns (0-1) took the loss after throwing just 0.1 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits and two walks, during Monday's 13-6 loss to the Red Sox.
Burns had a tough go of things during his second career start. In a bit of a reversal from his first outing, in which he struck out the first five batters he faced, the rookie right-hander got tagged for seven runs in the first inning, and he lasted just 33 pitches and one out before his evening came to a close. With Hunter Greene (groin/back) still on the shelf, the 22-year-old is likely to stick and make at least one more start, but he will need to have a short memory with the NL East-leading Phillies looming next.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Promising results in MLB debut
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Burns took a no-decision Tuesday against the Yankees, giving up three runs on six hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out eight.
The rookie right-hander showed plenty of promise in his major-league debut, generating 12 whiffs and touching 100 mph with his fastball twice. Burns also notably became the second Reds pitcher since 1920 to strike out the side in the first inning of his MLB debut in the process, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com, but the Yankees were able to tag him for three runs in the fourth frame. His next turn in Cincinnati's rotation tentatively projects for next week in Boston, and Burns figures to stick around in the big leagues at least until Hunter Greene (groin/back) is ready to return.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Called up, will start Tuesday
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Cincinnati selected Burns' contract from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
The Reds had already announced Monday that Burns had arrived in Cincinnati and was set to start Tuesday's game against the Yankees, but the team waited a day to make his call-up official. Regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball, Burns reached the big leagues after blazing through three levels of the minors this season. Over stops with High-A Dayton, Double-A Chattanooga and Louisville, Burns turned in a 1.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 89:13 K:BB in 66 innings across 13 starts. While the Reds are likely to keep a close eye on the 22-year-old's workload over the rest of the season, he possesses the skill set to make a big splash in the majors right away. The Reds optioned reliever Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A to clear room on the active roster for Burns.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Slated to make major-league debut
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Burns is expected to be called up from Triple-A Louisville to start Tuesday against the Yankees in Cincinnati, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Burns, whom the Reds drafted second overall in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, quickly ascended through Cincinnati's farm system after starting the season with High-A Dayton. He's dominated across three levels and has generated a 1.77 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 89:13 K:BB across 66 innings. Burns will take the spot in the Reds' rotation vacated by Wade Miley (forearm), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Friday.
