Chase Burns returns to the Padres’ draft list as Reds look to stop their slide

Chase Burns will take the mound Tuesday night at Petco Park for the Cincinnati Reds against the San Diego Padres, a matchup that carries extra symbolism for the 23-year-old right-hander. San Diego was the first organization to draft Burns, selecting him in the 20th round in 2021, before he chose not to sign and instead developed in college at Wake Forest. Now, with the Reds investing in their own path to him, Burns enters the game as a developing breakout arm in Cincinnati’s rotation and as the most notable connection between the two franchises.

The timing is not incidental for the Reds, who are trying to arrest a five-game losing streak while superstar Elly De La Cruz remains on the injured list. With their lineup asked to carry more of the burden during De La Cruz’s absence, the starting pitching becomes even more important, and Burns has offered a steady answer in recent outings. According to MLB, Burns has struck out at least seven batters in four consecutive starts, and in those same games he has not allowed more than two earned runs.

Burns’ month-to-month shape is reinforced by his ability to stay in games. MLB notes that he has gone at least five innings in all 12 of his starts this year. In those starts, the Reds have gone 8-4, a sign that Burns is not only limiting damage, but also giving the bullpen a more stable platform late in the outing. The broader measure that MLB highlights is his season run prevention, listing Burns with a 2.05 ERA heading into the Tuesday matchup.

For the Padres, facing Burns is also a reminder of how quickly baseball paths can diverge after a late-round decision. Even after San Diego passed on the moment when Burns declined their contract offer, the Padres’ 2021 draft class still produced multiple players who have reached important stages in their organizations. MLB’s recap of that draft includes other selections such as Jackson Merrill (first round), Robert Gasser (Competitive Balance Round B), Ryan Bergert (sixth round), River Ryan (11th round), and Gage Jump (18th round). While those names do not change Burns’ present value, they frame a season-long theme in baseball rebuilding: the same class can produce different outcomes, and the consequences can surface years later.

This game matters less for a head-to-head argument about “what might have been” and more for what each team needs right now. For the Reds, stopping the losing streak is a near-term priority, and Burns’ recent ability to combine strikeouts with short-run scoring ceilings offers them a chance to play with control at Petco. For the Padres, the matchup is an evaluation moment: they can learn what they lost and whether their current staff and defense can keep that kind of pitcher from fully cashing in.

There is also a scheduling and psychological element in the fact that Tuesday will be Burns’ first career start against San Diego. These are often games where hitters can overthink, chasing early swings or trying to attack the pitcher’s perceived identity too directly. Burns’ recent profile suggests he is reaching batters with a pitch mix that can generate consistent swings-and-misses, which would make patience and pitch recognition the central questions for San Diego.

The next thing to watch is whether Cincinnati can keep the run prevention going deep into the innings. MLB’s emphasis on Burns going five innings in every start implies the Reds’ game plan can be built around predictable starting duration, especially with their lineup coping with De La Cruz’s absence. If Burns continues the pattern of limiting earned runs while extending innings, the Reds’ season will have another stabilizing chapter. If not, this matchup will quickly turn into a referendum on how teams respond when the pitcher they once passed on proves he was worth waiting for.