When Burns pitches next — and what role he will be in — has not yet been determined by the club’s decision makers. They met with him on Monday to explain just that.
“We told him we don’t have clarity yet. But he knows that there’s an innings thing that we need to keep track of,” manager Terry Francona said. “We’re adamant and we’re all kind of in agreement that we do not want this kid [to stop] pitching, so how we get to the end, we might have to get a little creative. We just wanted to tell him that, even though we didn’t really have a plan that’s fully in place yet.”
Burns came out of the conversation unbothered about when or how he might pitch next.
“Just play it by ear,” Burns said. “I trust them. Anything they need, I’m down for it.”
Since making his pro debut in April, Burns has totaled 100 1/3 combined innings across stints in High-A, Double-A, Triple-A and the big leagues, already past the 100 collegiate innings he threw in 2024 with Wake Forest. As Cincinnati pushes for a postseason spot, the Reds could move Burns to the bullpen as a way of throttling back his innings total. Cincinnati could also give him a few more starts before going into a relief role.
Other factors are also in play. Nick Lodolo, who is on the 15-day IL with a blister on his left index finger, is eligible for activation on Aug. 20. The versatile Nick Martinez is also comfortable moving back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. And of course, there’s Greene, who has been on the IL twice this season for a right groin strain and hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since June 3.
Because of that, Greene will not be expected to reach 100 pitches in his first outing on Wednesday, which could affect how the bullpen is utilized ahead of an off day on Thursday.
Burns has struck out 10 batters in four of his last five starts (the one exception being the rain-shortened Speedway Classic on Aug. 2). He’s one of three Major League pitchers since 1893 with 10 or more K’s in four of their first eight career starts.
The Reds’ analytical data has shown no decrease in the output or velocity of Burns’ pitches, namely his triple-digit fastball, and the club has not set a hard limit on innings for the right-hander.
“I think there’s [inning] ‘ish,’ because I think that can be a little cosmetic,” Francona said. “I think you watch how the kid is throwing and also try to let the pitching guys and the trainers and the medical people use their judgement. Because they’ve tried to research as much as they can [while] trying to make the best decisions they can.”
