Chase Burns throws 105 pitches for Reds while pitching with cut finger after water bottle mishap

Roughly an hour before first pitch, Reds right-hander Chase Burns found himself dealing with a painful complication that had nothing to do with an opponent. According to an MLB report, Burns was pitching through a cut on his right middle finger after what he described as a water bottle mishap shortly before his start against the Padres. The hand issue was notable because it came right at the start of what turned into Burns’ most demanding outing to date on the professional level.

In that game, Burns reached a career-high 105 pitches. The number matters in baseball because it marks a threshold where managers typically begin to look toward the bullpen, especially when a pitcher is contending with any factor that could affect grip, control, or velocity. Even without turning it into a public medical narrative, the fact pattern gives context for why the outing stood out beyond the raw pitch total, namely that Burns was not simply grinding through innings, he was doing it with a newly injured finger.

The report also frames the performance as “even more impressive than originally thought,” indicating that the cut was not part of the initial framing of the appearance. For a starting pitcher, finger health is particularly relevant because throwing is a mechanical skill that depends on consistent contact and feel. A cut does not automatically end an outing, but it can make it harder to repeat pitches, especially breaking balls that rely on a reliable grip and clean release.

For the Reds, the ability to have a starter go deep on pitch volume has practical consequences for roster usage. A high pitch count from a starter can reduce strain on the bullpen in the short term, though it can also create a follow-on challenge the next day if the bullpen was heavily used behind him. With Burns reaching 105 pitches while managing his finger, the start becomes a reference point for how the club might weigh bullpen availability in future games and whether it plans a quicker hook next time if similar circumstances arise.

Burns’ outing also adds to the broader storyline of how pitchers handle adversity on the mound. Baseball injuries are often a slow-moving concern, but some issues arrive suddenly and require instant decision-making, both for the pitcher and for the organization. In this case, MLB’s account suggests Burns chose to continue with the finger cut, then proceeded to deliver an extended workload that ultimately defined the start.

The next test will be whether the finger cut is a one-off episode or something that carries over into his routine. Monitoring grip, pitch movement, and control is usually the best way to gauge impact after a finger injury, and teams often adjust their approach for a short period if they believe a pitcher is compensating. For Cincinnati, the immediate watch item is simply whether Burns can return to his usual command and workload without the cut becoming a recurring limitation.