CHICAGO -- Every inning Chase Burns throws Friday will carry two forms of weight.
The Reds need them now, as they attempt to stay within reach of the National League postseason picture, currently five games under .500 and five games back of the third and final NL Wild Card spot. But they also must consider what each inning means for the long-term health of a 23-year-old cornerstone who has already ventured deeper into a season than ever before.
As Burns prepares to open Cincinnati’s homestand against the Marlins at Great American Ball Park, manager Terry Francona insists those workload considerations will not alter the Reds’ approach.
“None. None. None,” Francona said when asked how Burns’ workload affects the team’s planning. “We have to try to win the game today, and then we’ll try to win the game tomorrow. He’s fine. He’s in a range. He’s in a good place.”
Burns has thrown 124 innings this season, surpassing the 109 1/3 he totaled across all professional levels in 2025 and the 100 innings he logged during his final collegiate season at Wake Forest.
That growing workload became particularly relevant during his most recent start against Washington. Burns allowed five runs on six hits and three walks across 5 1/3 innings Saturday, striking out six as his 12-decision winning streak ended in an 8-2 loss.
Burns cruised through two innings before allowing a two-run single in the third. After Cincinnati pulled even in the sixth, Washington opened the bottom half with three consecutive hits. Burns then issued a one-out walk to load the bases, prompting Francona to make a change with his starter nearing 100 pitches.
“That’s my biggest concern with him right now,” Francona said afterward. “At the end of his outing, trying to reach back for more when he’s nearing 100. That, to me, is where it starts to get a little iffy.”
Even after matching his season high with five earned runs, Burns owns a 13-2 record, 2.61 ERA and 143 strikeouts across 124 innings. Cincinnati is 15-6 in his 21 starts.
With Hunter Greene now beginning a 12-to-18-month recovery from his second Tommy John surgery, Burns’ importance to the Reds’ present and future has only grown. Cincinnati will remain mindful of the unfamiliar territory his right arm has entered.
On Friday, however, the plan remains refreshingly simple: Give Burns the ball and try to win.