Chase Burns Makes MLB History With Another 10-Strikeout Game
Reds rookie Chase Burns fanned 10 Pirates hitters on Friday night, marking the fourth time in his last five starts he’s reached double-digit strikeouts. The only exception came last weekend, when MLB bizarrely attempted to play through a downpour in Bristol — forcing Burns to exit after just one inning before the game was suspended.
With this latest performance, Burns became the first pitcher in MLB history to record 10 or more strikeouts in four of his first eight career games. Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Fernando Valenzuela matched that total in the same span, but both had prior relief appearances. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer first noted the distinction.
Burns dominated Friday, allowing just one run and walking only one batter, trimming his ERA to 5.24 — still inflated from a disastrous debut in Boston when he tipped pitches and recorded just one out. Now 22, the right-hander owns 57 strikeouts against only 13 walks, translating to a 37.7% strikeout rate since his debut.
That mark would comfortably lead the majors if he had enough innings to qualify. For context, Tarik Skubal leads qualified pitchers at 34.0%, while Logan Gilbert tops those with at least 70 innings at 35.1%.
In Reds history, only Rob Dibble (38.5% in 1992) and Aroldis Chapman (44.2% in 2012) have posted higher season-long strikeout rates over 70 innings. Among Cincinnati starters, Hunter Greene is the only one to eclipse 30%, doing so in both 2022 and 2023. Burns is on pace to join — and possibly surpass — that elite company.
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