Reds Placed Chase Burns on Injured List
The team moved Chase Burns to the injured list with a right groin strain as roster changes continue in Cincinnati.
Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Baseball
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The Cincinnati Reds have officially placed starting pitcher Chase Burns on the 15-day injured list due to a right groin strain. The move was made retroactive to Saturday following discomfort experienced during his final start.
Why it matters
The team opted for the move to protect Burns's long-term health after monitoring him closely during the final stretch of the season. His absence coincides with a broader roster shuffle that includes the addition of Carson Spiers and the designation of TJ Friedl for assignment.
Burns completed the 2026 season with a 15-3 record, a 2.86 ERA, and 185 strikeouts across 154 1/3 innings pitched. Conversely, TJ Friedl finished his 91-game campaign batting .172 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.
The players
Chase Burns
He is a starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who completed his 2026 season with a 15-3 record.
Carson Spiers
He is a pitcher who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds from their Triple-A affiliate in Louisville.
TJ Friedl
He is an outfielder who was designated for assignment by the Cincinnati Reds after appearing in 91 games.
The details
Burns reported groin discomfort following his outing on Friday, leading the organization to finalize his placement on the injured list on Sunday. To fill the vacancy, the Reds selected Carson Spiers from Triple-A Louisville, while also removing veteran TJ Friedl from the active roster.
Timeline
Friday, September 18, 2026: Burns made his final start of the season.
Saturday, September 19, 2026: The effective date for the injured list move.
Sunday, September 20, 2026: The Reds officially placed Burns on the injured list.
Season Trajectory
The move to sideline Burns highlights the team's shift toward protecting young pitching assets as the organization closes out its 2026 campaign. This roster adjustment mirrors a league-wide focus on health preservation for key arms during the final weeks of the regular season.
The loss of Burns forces a rotation change for the final games of the season, impacting potential pitching matchups for the club. Meanwhile, the designation of TJ Friedl removes a veteran option from the outfield rotation as the team evaluates its depth for the off-season.
The takeaway
Effective management of pitching workloads is critical to sustaining success over multiple seasons in the majors. Readers should track how teams balance player health with competitive roster depth as the season reaches its conclusion.
Further reading
For more on the current roster status, visit the Cincinnati Baseball section.
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