Chase Burns’ Season Ends With Groin Injury

In his penultimate three-inning outing, Burns threw 67 pitches, struck out four and walked two while allowing four hits, including a solo home run by Cubs outfielder Ian Happ.
Cubs starter Matthew Boyd earned the win after allowing two hits and two runs—one earned—in five innings, with two walks and four strikeouts on 71 pitches.
Reds starter Nick Lodolo went seven innings against Chicago, giving up seven hits and three runs while walking two and striking out one in 90 pitches.
Burns had also missed his rookie season’s All-Star Game because he was resting a groin injury, and he said he had experienced soreness in both groins at various points during the season.
Cincinnati Reds rookie right-hander Chase Burns' 2026 season is over. The team placed him on the injured list with a right groin strain, ending his remarkable first year Reuters. Burns, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, finished 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA across 29 starts and made his first All-Star team in his debut season.
The Reds had limited Burns to three innings in each of his final three outings to manage his workload. Despite groin soreness and reduced pitch counts, he continued striking out batters at an elite rate 740 The Fan. Cincinnati fell to 72-83 and was already eliminated from playoff contention before Burns' injury.
Chase Burns established himself as Cincinnati's ace in just his first year. Over 154 1/3 innings, he posted 15 wins, only three losses, and a 2.86 ERA. His strikeout ability never wavered, even as the Reds carefully managed his pitch counts down the stretch.
The groin strain proved persistent throughout Burns' rookie campaign. He already missed the All-Star Game earlier this season while resting the same injury 740 The Fan. Burns disclosed that he experienced soreness in both groins at different points during 2026, suggesting the injury was not a sudden occurrence but a lingering issue.
In his penultimate three-inning start, Burns threw 67 pitches and struck out four batters against Chicago Reuters. He allowed four hits, including a solo homer by Cubs outfielder Ian Happ, and walked two. The appearance marked his final outing before the injury ended his season.
Chicago powered past Cincinnati 5-2, with solo home runs from Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson providing the offensive spark Reuters. Cubs starter Matthew Boyd earned the win after five innings, allowing two hits and two runs on 71 pitches with four strikeouts and two walks.
Cincinnati's Nick Lodolo pitched seven innings for the Reds, giving up seven hits and three runs while striking out one and walking two on 90 pitches. The loss left the Reds at 72-83 and out of postseason contention 740 The Fan. The Cubs' win strengthened their grip atop the National League wild-card race.
The Reds were extremely cautious with Burns as his workload jumped significantly from his previous professional experience. Despite limiting him to three innings in his final three starts, the groin injury persisted and ultimately forced Cincinnati to shut him down Reuters. The team's conservative approach could not prevent the injury from ending his standout first season.
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