A day after the Cincinnati Reds won a game in which they faced reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, they’ll send their own Cy Young contender to the mound when Chase Burns takes on the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Saturday afternoon.
Burns (9-1, 2.00 ERA) enters the matchup against Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (1-1, 5.75) having allowed two runs or fewer in 12 consecutive starts. The streak tied the Reds franchise record set by Edinson Volquez in 2008.
Burns also has the third-lowest ERA in the majors behind only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (1.45) and the New York Yankees’ Cam Schlittler (1.62).
An encouraging sign for the Reds’ emerging ace came in his most recent start against the host Yankees last Sunday. The right-hander didn’t have his best stuff and faced a challenging lineup that featured seven lefty hitters. However, Burns gave up only one run on five hits and three walks and struck out seven over five innings to help Cincinnati prevail, 4-1.
“I know he has high standards,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said. “Outings like this are going to make him an even better pitcher. It shows a lot. Whenever a pitcher is able to throw anything they want wherever they want, that’s special. To not feel good and go out and do what he did against a really good team, that’s really impressive.”
Burns will face the Pirates for the third time this season, and he has yet to give up a run against them. He pitched a five-inning one-hitter despite three walks in his first start against visiting Pittsburgh on March 30 and won 2-0.
He then pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out seven in his most recent start at PNC Park on May 3. He did not get a decision as the visiting Reds lost that game, 1-0.
The Reds are hoping Burns can deliver another quality start to spare their bullpen, which took another hit on Friday when right-hander Tony Santillan was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained left oblique. Cincinnati recalled right-hander Zach McCambley from Triple-A Louisville.
Pittsburgh is relieved Jones will make his start as scheduled after exiting his last outing this past Sunday at Colorado after just 45 pitches when he took an 87.9-mph comebacker off his right elbow from the Rockies’ TJ Rumfield.
Jones will make his sixth start since coming off the 60-day injured list. Jones had not pitched since 2024 after undergoing surgery to repair his right UCL. Jones was fortunate not to have suffered worse damage had the line drive hit his elbow a bit lower.
“It doesn’t feel great, but kind of the best-case scenario where nothing is too messed up in there,” Jones said. “I feel like (I was) a little overdramatic, but getting hit in the elbow five starts off of surgery kind of pisses me off. But, everything is fine.”
Before the incident, Jones gave up one run on one hit and two walks and struck out three over three innings.
Jones has pitched five innings just once this season. He has faced the Reds only once. That outing came on Sept. 21, 2024, when he allowed six runs on six hits, including two home runs, walked three and struck out five over five innings in a 7-1 loss.
Pittsburgh’s own bullpen continued to struggle on Friday as Mason Montgomery gave up a go-ahead two-run homer to pinch hitter Noelvi Marte in the eighth inning of a 6-4 loss in the series opener.
After reinstating rookie shortstop phenom Konnor Griffin (throwing arm) from the 10-day injured list, the Pirates optioned infielder Jack Brannigan to Double-A Altoona.
–Field Level Media
