Reds place ace Burns on 15-day IL with groin injury

CINCINNATI -- The Reds placed right-hander Chase Burns on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a right groin strain, ending the All-Star's season.

"After his start (Friday), he just came in ... and he felt the right groin a little bit," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "So again, we're being very cautious."

The move to the IL was retroactive to Saturday.

Burns, 23, has pitched 154 1/3 innings this season, far surpassing his 43 1/3 innings during his rookie season in 2025. He is 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA, 185 strikeouts and a 1.166 WHIP in 29 starts.

His 238 strikeouts through his first 36 career starts rank third in Reds franchise history since 1900.

Burns had worked just three innings in each of his past three starts in order to limit his innings for the remainder of the season.

"He did a really, really good job," Francona said. "I think it makes sense to not push him for (another) three-inning start. We got him to a point where next year, however he pitches, it's not going to be determined by, 'Oh, we've got to be careful with this'. So that's a really good thing."

Burns was named to the NL All-Star squad but did not pitch because of a groin issue.

"Not how I wanted it to end," Burns said. "Both groins kind of got upset this year. Kind of frustrating. Happy with the way the season went, just the growth and experience. Ready to get back next year. I'm excited."

In corresponding roster moves Sunday, the Reds selected right-hander Carson Spiers from Triple-A Louisville and designated outfielder TJ Friedl for assignment.

Friedl batted .172 with four homers and 13 RBIs in 91 games. He was optioned to Louisville on Friday for the second time this season.