The Reds are taking a careful approach with Chase Burns down the stretch, and Jeff Brantley tipped their hand before the club made it official.
During Sunday night’s Cubs-Reds telecast, Brantley said Burns could be making his last “real start” of 2026 as the right-hander neared the 100-pitch mark in the sixth inning. He then spelled out what that would likely mean from there.
“Because after this, it is going to be kid gloves and short, maybe three-inning stints, and that’s it. And even in this spot ...
(Francona) has really not let him get into a situation where he is having to go to the extra part of the tank right around that 100-pitch mark. Because you’re looking at an injury situation and you don’t want that to happen.”
That assessment fit the larger picture around Cincinnati’s season. The Reds are headed for a year without a playoff appearance, so protecting Burns for 2027 makes plenty of sense. Burns is 15-3 and remains a strong candidate for the National League Cy Young Award, but the priority now is keeping him healthy.
Francona later confirmed the plan, according to Joe Danneman of FOX19. Burns will take his next turn Monday, and after that Brandon Williamson will piggyback each of his remaining starts. Burns will still be in the rotation, but his innings and pitch count will be limited before Williamson comes in behind him.
It’s the same basic idea Burns had already discussed when asked about what the Reds had in mind for him. They are not shutting him down, just managing the workload and avoiding unnecessary stress in the final month.
That approach also lines up with where Burns fits in the organization. After signing a 7-year, $105 million extension earlier this season, he’s clearly central to the Reds’ future. Keeping him as healthy as possible now is the obvious move as the 2026 season winds down.
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Eugenio Suarez Will Miss Reds Games For A Moment Bigger Than Baseball
Eugenio Surez will be away from the Reds for a couple of days this week, but for a reason that reaches well beyond the box score. The veteran infielder is set to miss Cincinnatis games against the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday while he takes his naturalization test as he continues his pursuit of U.S. citizenship, a milestone that carries extra meaning for a player who has spent multiple seasons building a strong bond with the city.
Surezs absence comes as Cincinnati keeps leaning on its power bats and the emergence of rookie Sal Stewart, who has already put together a noteworthy season at the plate. Even so, this is the kind of moment that reminds everyone around the club that baseball is only part of the story, and for Surez, the next step is one he has been working toward for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Two Question Marks At The Worst Time
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Britos arrival adds another layer, though his role looks likely to be modest after coming over from the Guardians at the trade deadline. The infielder is expected to see limited playing time, which leaves the Reds with two newcomers who are still trying to find their footing while the club keeps sorting out its depth and health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Eugenio Surezs Absence Forced A Reds Infield Change
Eugenio Surez is away from the Reds for the final two games of the series against the Padres, leaving Cincinnati to juggle its infield a little differently while he steps away to take his U.S. citizenship naturalization test. It is the kind of brief but unavoidable absence that forces a roster to absorb the change quickly, and the club answered by bringing up infielder Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville to add depth.
Terry Francona and Brito both addressed the move, underscoring that the Reds are treating it as a practical roster adjustment rather than anything more disruptive. Still, whenever a regular is pulled out of the lineup for even a short stretch, it creates a small test of flexibility, and Cincinnati will spend the next couple of games sorting out how best to cover the infield until Surez returns. [Read more 🡒]