Reds' Chase Burns' early-career MLB history hit hard by Angels

Perhaps certain MLB insiders should edit their Cy Young thoughts regarding Cincinnati Reds starter Chase  Burns.

Burns, who established a modern era record by amassing at least nine strikeouts in five of his 10 starts of at least 6.0 innings, failed to add to his almost fabled early career outings. Before Burns, no pitcher since at least 1901 had accomplished that feat more than three times during that span.

Evidenced by his elite pitch movement, Burns, the second overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft, debuted with the Reds on June 24, 2025, by striking out the first three batters he faced, New York Yankees' Trent Grisham, Ben Rice and Aaron Judge. All went down swinging.

After his opening two starts this season, ESPN's Jeff Passen declared Burns will claim the NL Cy Young award because "his stuff is ultra-premium, particularly his fastball (at 98.6 the second hardest on average among major league starters) and slider (generating an otherworldly 56.3 percent whiff rate).

"This is Burns' time."

Is it?

Reds' Chase Burns aims to rebound

During his first two starts, Burns posted a 0.82 earned-run average and held opponents to a .154 batting average. He compiled 16 strikeouts among 36 swing and misses.

A lack of control Friday cost Burns. His troubles started in the second inning when he walked Yoan Moncada, yielded consecutive singles to Josh Lowe and Logan O'Hoppe and walked Adam Frazier with the bases loaded.

He also surrendered a run in the third inning, two more in the fourth on Zach Neto's two-run home run. Burns was relieved in the sixth after allowing Lowe's solo homer and Frazier's single.

One bad start will hardly detour Burns' rise to becoming the Reds' staff ace.

Is he a future Cy Young winner?

Maybe.

Is it his time this season?

TBD.