Chase Burns started for the Cincinnati Reds against the Washington Nationals on Saturday at 6:45 PM ET, and the matchup came with more than just one game on the line. Cincinnati was trying to stay in the playoff race, but it was also managing Burns' workload with the season moving deeper into 2026.
Burns had already reached 118.2 IP before the start, a notable number for a pitcher who threw 100 IP in his final college season in 2024 and then 109.1 IP across all levels last year. That kind of year-to-year jump is part of why his innings count matters now, especially with the Reds already without Hunter Greene for the rest of the season.
Why Burns' innings matter
The Reds do not have a lot of room to be careless with their rotation plans. Losing Hunter Greene for the rest of the season already thinned out the staff, which makes every healthy start more important. At the same time, Burns is approaching an innings limit, so Cincinnati has to balance immediate needs with the bigger picture.
That is what made Saturday's start against Andrew Alvarez for the Cincinnati Reds against the Washington Nationals worth watching. The Reds need results in the standings, but they also need Burns available for as long as possible. With the season still going and the playoff race still alive, that balance could shape how often the Reds can keep leaning on him down the stretch.
