MILWAUKEE – Chase Burns probably won’t win another game down the stretch this season.
That’s a byproduct of an innings-limit plan that for the Cincinnati Reds’ young All-Star starter that already has likely transformed his Cy Young chances from slim into none.
Burns isn’t complaining, because he understands the bigger picture of what the plan might mean for a potentially healthier, stronger 2027 season for a Reds team that has big plans for bouncing backnext year.
“We’ve talked about it. It’s just better for next year,” he said.
What it means for now is don’t be late tuning in to the games when Burns makes his final three starts this season if you want
to watch this year’s best pitcher finish his first full season in the majors — including this weekend’s series finale in Milwaukee.
Not that manager Terry Francona is broadcasting his game-by-game limits for Burns (15-3, 2.73 ERA) the rest of the way.
The last time Burns started, he didn’t give up a hit in the first three innings in Los Angeles and struck out five Dodgers. At which point he was lifted in favor of piggyback/start partner Brandon Williamson.
“I don’t want to lie to you guys, but I also don’t feel like telling the other team what we’re doing,” Francona said, when asked after the planned three-inning start if the same limit would apply down the stretch.
“We’re gonna get him to the end of the year,” Francona said, echoing one of the priorities the Reds set for their rising ace during this important, formative year in his development toward that stature.
Burns, who signed a seven-year, $105 million extension in July, will start in all his remaining appearances in the piggyback plan with Williamson, which figures to give him 30 starts this season.
That much Francona was willing to divulge. But no other details.
“We’ve got it all mapped out,” Francona said.
Burns’ start in Milwaukee will be his 28th of the season. He enters that game with 148 1/3 innings pitched, a career high for a season at any/all levels by 39 innings. He leads the majors in winning percentage (.833), leads the Reds in bWAR (5.0) and ranks in the top 10 in MLB in ERA, wins, pitching WAR and strikeouts per nine innings (10.7).
“I feel like the season’s going great,” Burns said. “I’ve learned from last year, and the growth. I’m just going to keep getting better.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: In Chase for ace in 2027, Cincinnati Reds slow Burns way down in 2026
