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Reds Limit Chase Burns’ Innings as Brandon Williamson Returns to Piggyback Role

The club says the plan is designed to reduce injury risk and preserve Burns’ availability by using Williamson to absorb innings late in the season.

Overview

  • Reds manager Terry Francona said the team will impose an innings limit on 23-year-old Chase Burns for the final month of the regular season to protect his arm.
  • Following Sunday’s roughly 100-pitch outing at Wrigley Field, Burns will be given shorter, more controlled starts and a full week off before his next scheduled turn.
  • Left-hander Brandon Williamson will be activated to start on Wednesday, Sept. 2, and will follow Burns in his starts to “piggyback” innings for the rotation.
  • Francona declined to set a hard pitch or inning cap, saying the exact threshold is to be determined so the club can both compete and manage Burns’ workload.
  • Williamson is on the 60-day injured list and requires a 40-man roster move that the club views as a procedural swap, a step meant to keep Burns healthy and available for the stretch run.