Terry Francona Announces Chase Burns News as Reds Face Season-Ending Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Rookie starting pitcher Chase Burns' injury has put the Cincinnati Reds in quite the predicament. The Reds have been on the rise as they currently sit just half a game out of the last Wild Card spot.

With Chase Burns on the injured list for the Reds, pitching depth among the starters and in the bullpen is again a frontline issue.

Burns was expected to go to the bullpen when Greene returned, but that was before lefty Nick Lodolo went on the IL with a blister on his left index finger. Lodolo is throwing smooth plyo balls to keep his arm in shape without dealing with the seams of the baseball that contribute to the blister.

The Cincinnati Reds signed former highly ranked New York Yankees prospect Alexander Vargas to a minor league deal on Tuesday. Vargas, a shortstop, was the Yankees' 13th-ranked prospect in 2021. They paid $2.