Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona met with reporters prior to Monday night’s matchup against the San Diego Padres and offered a positive update on the progress of rookie right-hander Chase Burns. The young pitcher, who has been sidelined with an injury, is nearing a potential return to the roster.
According to Francona, Burns is scheduled to throw another side bullpen session on Tuesday. If that session goes smoothly, the skipper is optimistic that Burns could be activated by the end of the week, with a realistic target being Friday when the Reds open their series against the Oakland Athletics. Reporter Brian Giesenschlag first relayed Francona’s encouraging comments.
Although Burns has been used as a starter throughout his rookie season, it’s unlikely he will be fully stretched out to resume that role right away. Instead, the Reds appear poised to ease him back into action as a reliever. That move could prove to be a timely boost for Cincinnati’s bullpen, which has been tested in recent weeks. Emilio Pagán has struggled to hold down the late innings, forcing Francona to lean on Tony Santillan in Sunday’s ninth-inning save situation against the New York Mets. Adding Burns into the mix would give the club another reliable arm to call upon in high-leverage spots.
Burns’ rookie campaign has had its ups and downs. In eight starts for the Reds, he has posted a 5.24 ERA while striking out an impressive 57 batters across 34 1/3 innings. Despite the inflated ERA, the strikeout numbers highlight his potential to miss bats and change the momentum of games when he’s on the mound.
The Reds, who enter the week with a 72–71 record, are fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive. They open a critical three-game series against the Padres on Monday night, and the return of Burns could arrive at just the right time to bolster both their pitching depth and their confidence down the stretch.
