Burns (7-1) got the win against the Mets on Tuesday, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out eight across 5.1 innings.
Burns entered Tuesday's start having logged at least seven strikeouts in five of his six prior outings. He set the tone early by striking out the side in the first inning and kept the Mets off the board until the sixth, when he gave up a two-run homer to Juan Soto. Burns fell two outs short of recording a sixth straight quality start (and eighth of the season), but it was another strong outing for the 23-year-old right-hander. He has a 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 72 strikeouts across 64.1 innings in what has been a breakout season so far. Burns is slated to make his next start at home against the Royals.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Dazzling May continues
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Burns (6-1) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing one run on three hits over six innings in a 4-1 win over the Phillies. He struck out nine without walking a batter.
The 23-year-old righty dominated a formidable lineup, racking up 18 swinging strikes among his 86 pitches (54 total strikes), and the only blemish on Burns' line came on a Trea Turner solo shot in the third inning. Burns has won three straight starts and delivered quality starts in all four of his May outings, producing a stellar 0.72 ERA, 0.72 WHIP and 25:6 K:BB in 25 innings this month. He'll look to keep rolling in his next start, which is scheduled to come on the road early next week against the Mets.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Blanks Nats for fifth win
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Burns (5-1) earned the win Thursday over Washington, allowing just two hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
Burns turned in another excellent outing Thursday while the Reds' offense provided more than enough run support in an eventual 15-1 victory. It's the fourth straight quality start for Burns, who's allowed just three runs over 25 innings during that span. The 23-year-old right-hander's ERA is down to a pristine 1.87 with a 1.00 WHIP and 55:18 K:BB across nine starts (53 innings) this season. Burns will look to keep rolling his next time out, currently scheduled as a road matchup with the Phillies.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Goes six strong in win
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Burns (4-1) earned the win against the Astros on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts over six innings.
Burns allowed a solo homer in the fifth inning but otherwise kept the Astros in check despite issuing more walks than strikeouts. It marked the third straight quality start for the 23-year-old, and he's now limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of eight outings this season. He'll carry a 2.11 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 48:16 K:BB across 47 innings into a road matchup against the Guardians next weekend.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Fans nine in third win
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Burns (3-1) picked up the win Tuesday, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk over six innings in a 7-2 victory over the Rockies. He struck out nine.
The nine Ks tied Burns' season high, and he racked up an eye-popping 22 swinging strikes among his 97 pitches (64 total strikes) en route to his third quality start in six trips to the mound. The young righty will take a 2.65 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 39:12 K:BB through 34 innings into his next outing, which is set to come on the road this weekend in Pittsburgh.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Fans eight in second win
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Burns (2-1) picked up the win Tuesday against the Rays, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across 5.2 innings.
Burns had his elite stuff working Tuesday, as he cruised through five relatively easy innings before the Tampa Bay lineup turned over for a third time in the bottom of the sixth inning when Jonathan Aranda tagged Burns for a two-run homer. The 23-year-old Burns has struggled a bit with his command at times this season, but there's no denying his swing-and-miss upside. Through five starts, Burns has a 2.57 ERA and 30:11 K:BB across 28 innings. His next start should come at home against the Rockies next week.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Gives up five runs in loss
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Burns (1-1) was tagged with the loss Friday against the Angels after allowing five runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out two through 5.1 innings.
Burns was coming off a quality start on the road against the Rangers last time out, but he didn't have his best stuff in this one. He tossed only 57 of his 92 pitches for strikes and also gave up two homers -- a two-run shot to Zach Neto and a solo homer to Josh Lowe. Burns had allowed just one earned run through 11 innings in his previous two starts, so some regression was inevitable. He'll hope to bounce back in his next scheduled start against the Giants at home next week.
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Reds' Chase Burns: Dazzles in season debut
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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: 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.
