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Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
How the Reds are managing Chase Burns’ innings down the stretch
- Story byJournal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
- How the Reds are managing Chase Burns’ innings down the stretch
The Cincinnati Reds will manage the innings of starting pitcher Chase Burns down the stretch, and the process will begin this week.
Burns, who made his most recent start last Sunday, Aug. 30, won't start again until Monday, Sept. 7. When he makes his next start, his innings will be limited as the Reds use Brandon Williamson as a piggyback starter.
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"This season, making every start and limiting my pitch count and innings, that's huge for my body," Burns said. "That's the plan. Making every start is the biggest thing. I don't need to go out there at the end of September and throw 110 pitches. Make every start if I feel great. Constantly communicate with them."
Burns has been one of the best starting pitchers in the National League this season. He has a 2.76 ERA in 26 starts with 171 strikeouts. He's well past his career-high for innings in a season.
"I'm in the grind season," Burns said. "This is the most innings I've pitched in my career. I take it in and try to grow from it. I'm figuring out what I have to do to really bear down and get through it and get to the next one."
The Reds will not be shutting down Burns towards the end of the season. There's value in having him continue to make starts, even if the innings are limited.
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"Being able to finish off this season healthy and feel great is the biggest thing," Burns said. "One, we have no clue what's going to happen next year with the lockout stuff. For years to come, if I shut down right now and then next year we don't have a full season, that's two seasons where I don't get a full year of throwing. The year after that (2028) is when I'm supposed to be the man, doing my thing. My body just wouldn't be able to handle a full season."
Williamson made his first big league start since April on Wednesday, Sept. 2. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts while earning a 7-3 win over the Padres
After making the Reds' Opening Day rotation, he dealt with shoulder issues and missed several months.
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"I was in such a groove in spring training," Williamson said.
"I don't want to say it was easy, but I felt like I knew what I was doing. My arm was flowing. The game was coming easier than it normally does. After two years of not pitching, getting back into it, it caught up to me. I think we have it behind us now. We've done a lot of good stuff in the last few months to negate that."
He has dealt with shoulder issues in multiple years of his career. Williamson hopes that a new, amped-up stretching routine will help him going forward.
He has an opportunity to generate some momentum down the stretch.
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"I just want to feel good," Williamson said. "I want to pitch. I want to test where I'm at. I want to see what I need to do, take that into the offseason and be ready to rock for next year, too."
Andrew Abbott , Brady Singer , Rhett Lowder and Nick Lodolo round out the rest of the rotation.
Williamson joined the roster as an extra pitcher with rosters expanding in September.
