Chase Burns’ first All-Star nod will come with a catch: the Reds right-hander won’t actually take the mound in Tuesday’s Mid-Summer Classic.
Burns was named to the National League roster in his first full season, but Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski has been added in his place. The update was reported by Charlie Goldsmith on social media. Burns now joins Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers, Paul Skenes of the Pirates, and Max Meyer of the Marlins as pitchers who have been replaced after being scheduled to work on Sunday.
The timing is what makes Burns’ situation stand out. He is not slated to pitch on Saturday or Sunday, which raises questions, though no reason has been announced for why he is unavailable. The pitchers lined up for Saturday include Cam Schlittler, Joe Ryan, Christopher Sanchez, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
That’s a sharp turn from what Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday before the game, when he told reporters Burns would be available for Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
"We'll bring him out of the gate probably last," Francona said. "We're trying to be fair to him, but also you know protect him a little bit as much as we can, and he's earned the right to pitch, so we wanted him to be able to enjoy that."
The bigger picture is easy to see. Burns has already crossed a workload line the Reds are clearly watching closely.
He has thrown 102.2 innings this season, the first time in his career he has gone past 100 innings in a year. With that in mind, it makes sense that Cincinnati would be careful with its young ace.
And Burns has been every bit worthy of the attention. After going 0-3 in his rookie season in 2025, he has surged into the conversation with the game’s best young arms, alongside Skenes and Misiorowski. He is 11-1 with a 2.54 ERA, 118 strikeouts, a .206 batting average against, and a 1.11 WHIP.
Burns summed up the moment after learning of his All-Star selection.
“A lot of emotions,” Burns told Charlie Goldsmith after finding out he was being named to the All-Star roster. “I’m going to face three really good guys, hopefully… I can’t wait. I’m just thankful that God has put me in this opportunity.”
The Reds have another first-time All-Star in Stewart, who was also selected in his first season of big league baseball. Unlike Burns, Stewart qualifies as a rookie for the 2026 season, and he has been one of Cincinnati’s most productive players all year.
On Wednesday, Stewart hit two home runs against the Philadelphia Phillies and moved past Reds legend Frank Robinson for the most home runs by a rookie before the All-Star break, with 19.
"It feels good to be in the company of someone of that great of stature of a player," Stewart told Charlie Clifford
Stewart’s season line sits at .257/.339/.477 with 19 home runs, 21 doubles, and 65 RBI. His 65 RBI rank eighth in Major League Baseball, and he is tied for 12th in doubles. He leads the Reds in home runs, RBI, hits, doubles, and walks, a breakout run that has earned him his first All-Star Game selection.
In Other News...
Elly De La Cruz Snub Just Got Even More Brutal For Reds Fans
Shohei Ohtanis absence from the 2026 MLB All-Star Game opened a spot on the National League roster, but for Reds fans hoping it might finally create a path for Elly De La Cruz, the news only added to the frustration. Ohtani will miss the game because of a knee injury and use the break for treatment, leaving the league to fill one of the marquee vacancies on the roster.
Instead, Cincinnatis star shortstop remains on the outside looking in after being overlooked in fan voting, despite a strong season that had kept him in the conversation. De La Cruz will not be part of the All-Star festivities, a decision that stings even more now that an opening existed and went elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Rhett Lowders New Reds Role Raises A Bigger Question About His Future
Rhett Lowders latest assignment says as much about the Reds present as it does about their future. With the rotation crowded and the bullpen needing help, the club has shifted the right-hander out of the starting mix and into relief, a move meant to give Cincinnati more flexibility while keeping one of its most promising young arms in the picture.
Lowder has already handled the change well in two relief appearances, turning in scoreless innings in both outings and giving the Reds a useful look at how he might fit in different late-game roles. The bigger question is what comes next, because the team is still weighing whether he profiles best as a long reliever, a higher-leverage option or a starter again down the road. [Read more 🡒]