Overview
- Manager Terry Francona said the shortened outing was intentional to address a minor range-of-motion concern and described the move as “nipping this in the bud.”
- Burns worked two scoreless innings on 24 pitches (17 strikes) against the Giants, allowing one hit with two strikeouts as his fastball averaged 98.3 mph and touched 100.7, per Statcast.
- Cincinnati continues to sort out rotation roles after Hunter Greene’s elbow arthroscopy, with two spots likely to come from Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson alongside Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer.
- Burns remains a leading candidate after a 2025 debut highlighted by a 35.6% strikeout rate and strong peripherals (2.68 xFIP, 2.76 SIERA) despite a higher ERA, though he previously missed about a month with a grade 1 flexor strain.
- MLBTR reports the club has reassigned Chase Petty and Julian Aguiar to minor league camp, narrowing the field as Williamson returns from UCL surgery and Lowder builds back from prior forearm trouble.