The Reds activated Burns (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Burns wound up missing a month of action with a Grade 1 right flexor strain. He did not go out on a rehab assignment, and the Reds' plan is to deploy the rookie flamethrower as a reliever down the stretch. While Burns is likely to be quite successful in a relief role, he will not be used as the team's closer, so it will be difficult for him to churn out much fantasy value in the final weeks.

Burns (elbow) will initially pitch out of the bullpen upon his expected activation Friday, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burns will be limited in his innings and usage but could make a serious impact as a reliever. The right-hander can pair a triple-digit fastball and wipeout slider in short outings. Burns has worked his way back from a flexor tendon strain that's kept him on the injured list since Aug. 15 (retroactive to Aug. 12).

The Reds intend to activate Burns (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Friday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burns was cleared to resume throwing in mid-August and progressed to facing live hitters in early September. He's in the final stages of his recovery from a Grade 1 right elbow strain, and the 22-year-old looks poised to skip a rehab assignment and return to the majors as long as he gets through Tuesday's bullpen session without suffering a setback, per Wittenmyer. Burns started in all eight of his appearances with the Reds prior to his injury and posted a 5.24 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 34.1 innings, but manager Terry Francona has hinted at Burns working out of the bullpen for the tail end of the season.

Burnes (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session Tuesday and will throw another later in the week, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander is working his way back from an elbow strain and appears to be on the cusp of returning to game action. If Burns comes out of his two sessions this week with no issues, and he then be sent to the minor leagues on a rehab assignment.

Burns (elbow) threw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The session simulated Burns working multiple innings. The tentative next step for the right-hander is to face hitters in a batting practice session Tuesday. The Reds still believe Burns can pitch again before the end of the regular season, but there's no firm target date for his return.

Burns (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burns threw a bullpen session without any issues Tuesday and is working his way back to active status. Per the report, an estimated timeline indicates he could possibly return by the end of the season.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Burns (elbow) has a bullpen session scheduled for Tuesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

EDGE Analysis

It appears to be the first time he will throw off a mound since he was diagnosed with a Grade 1 right flexor strain on Aug. 15. It's not clear when Burns might be activated from the 15-day injured list, but the Reds could speed up his timetable if they elect to bring him back as a reliever.

Reds manager Terry Francona said that Burns (elbow) will resume throwing Monday, MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burns landed on the 15-day injured list this past Friday after being diagnosed with a Grade 1 right flexor strain, but the fact that he's already been cleared to throw backs up the Reds' optimism that the righty is not facing an extended absence. When/if Burns does return, he could do so in a relief role, as the Reds have a bevy of other rotation options and also want to keep an eye on Burns' workload.

Manager Terry Francona said Friday that the "best case" scenario is Burns (elbow) will be on the injured list for only a couple of weeks, and Burns could start throwing again this week, Charlie Clifford of NBC5 Cincinnati reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burns was placed on the injured list Friday morning, retroactive to Aug. 12, with a flexor strain in his throwing elbow. Francona noted that Burns, who will be under a workload restriction for the rest of the 2025 season, was slated to pitch out of the bullpen Wednesday but reported shoulder stiffness. Further evaluation revealed the strain. Team doctors believe Burns avoided serious injury, though. The rookie flamethrower could resume throwing in the coming days and could return before the calendar flips to September.

The Reds placed Burns on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Aug. 12, due to a flexor strain in his right elbow.

EDGE Analysis

Burns last pitched a week ago in Pittsburgh and allowed one run with 10 strikeouts across six innings. He met with manager Terry Francona earlier this week to discuss the rookie's workload restrictions down the stretch, having thrown 100.1 innings so far across all levels in his first professional season. It's unclear if those limitations are related to the injury, but the 22-year-old will be unavailable for at least the next couple weeks, regardless.