Chase Burns Joins Elite Company Despite Reds’ Loss to Dodgers
Cincinnati Reds rookie right-hander Chase Burns turned in a strong outing on Monday night at Great American Ball Park, but a lack of run support doomed his chances of picking up a win in a 5–2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Burns allowed three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out 10. The 22-year-old’s performance etched his name into the MLB record books — he became just the 14th pitcher since 1901 to record at least 45 strikeouts in his first six career starts, according to Matt Wilkes of Reds Content Plus.
The exclusive list of pitchers to accomplish that feat includes names like Paul Skenes, Stephen Strasburg, Felix Hernandez, and Kerry Wood — all known for their electric starts to big-league careers.
Burns, the Reds’ first-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, now has 45 strikeouts and a 6.26 ERA through six games. However, that ERA is somewhat misleading. One of his starts — a rough outing against Boston where he was reportedly tipping pitches — saw him give up five runs while recording just one out. Outside of that game, Burns has shown flashes of dominance, with high strikeout totals and improved command.
While the Reds fell short Monday, Burns’ continued development gives the team a bright spot as the season progresses.
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