Chase Burns’ injury places the Cincinnati Reds in a tight spot as they chase a wild-card berth. The 22-year-old, who rocketed from Wake Forest to the Reds’ rotation after being the No. 2 pick in 2024, is now on the 15-day injured list with a right flexor strain. Cincinnati is weighing whether to push Burns back or cap his innings with a bullpen-focused plan to protect him for 2026 while staying in the playoff chase.

With Burns sidelined, the Reds must decide how to finish the season. MRI results eased fears of a serious injury, but Burns will miss at least two weeks and will be eased back upon his return. He’s already circled 100 innings across the minors and majors this season, a threshold that has Reds leadership contemplating cautious handling as they try to sustain a late-season push after a long playoff drought.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jake Fraley was designated for assignment as roster juggling intensified with catcher Tyler Stephenson’s thumb flare-up and a compact bench. Cincinnati recalled Connor Phillips and Will Benson from Triple-A Louisville and optioned left-hander Joe La Sorsa to Triple-A, as Terry Francona cited the need to maximize playing time and avoid a two-man bench with Stephenson sidelined. Fraley, 30, has slashed .232 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games, and his DFA comes despite solid fan support. Stephenson reaggravated a left-thumb issue in the Pittsburgh series and is day-to-day, with Jose Trevino starting Sunday. Cincinnati, which has not been swept in a series this season, dropped the first two against Milwaukee, which has a 14-game win streak, adding another wrinkle to a tense NL Central chase.

Cincinnati designated Jake Fraley for assignment after a knee hyperextension in the 10th that followed an error in left, paired with Tyler Stephenson's left-thumb issue and a squeezed bench. Fraley, 30, had slashed .232 with six homers and 23 RBIs in 67 games this season for Cincinnati. The Reds recalled Connor Phillips and Will Benson from Louisville and optioned left-hander Joe La Sorsa, signaling a shift to give more chances to the outfield depth and a younger arm for the staff. The move comes as Cincinnati weighs lineup protection with Stephenson banged up and seeks practical bench balance, a decision manager Terry Francona described as a sleep-depriving, life-changing call.

In fantasy terms, Fraley’s DFA could clear ABs for Benson and may unlock more playing time for Phillips as a potential sparkplug at the plate, while also injecting fresh bullpen options with La Sorsa out. Cincinnati’s move to lean on the farm and a rising prospect pool while navigating a pennant race indicates a pivot toward upside depth rather than short-term reclamation. With the Brewers perched first in the division, the Reds’ reshuffle matters for daily fantasy and DFS rosters as the club aims to maximize available talents and bridge through a tight schedule.

Chase Burns landed on the injured list with a grade 1 flexor strain in his right elbow, trimming the Reds’ early-season breakout pace. Cincinnati recalled Joe La Sorsa from Triple-A Louisville as Burns heads to the shelf, while Wade Miley was sent to Double-A for a rehab assignment. The Reds also welcomed back Hunter Greene to the rotation after a long absence due to a strained right groin, a check-point moment as Cincinnati stays in the NL wild-card chase.

Burns, 22, has logged eight big-league appearances across 34 innings with a 5.24 ERA (88 ERA+), a 4.38 K:BB, and a heater sitting in the upper-90s. His Aug. 8 start vs Pittsburgh was a reminder of his upside: six innings, one run on three hits and a walk, with 10 strikeouts. The timeline for Burns remains uncertain; flexor strains vary widely, and Cincinnati’s immediate plan includes La Sorsa’s left-handed depth and Greene’s ramp-up.

The Reds sit a half-game behind the Mets for the NL’s final wild-card slot, heading into a pivotal weekend vs. the first-place Brewers. Milwaukee has rolled to 12 straight wins and 26 of 30, while Cincinnati has shown momentum of late, going 18–12 in the last 30. The absence of Burns tests the Reds’ depth, but Greene’s return injects a critical veteran presence as they navigate a tight playoff race.