Burns looks to notch 13th consecutive winning decision in Washington

WASHINGTON — Chase Burns will try to be the first Reds pitcher in 70 years to notch 13 straight winning decisions when he takes the mound and starts against the Nationals on Saturday.

Burns is 13-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 137 strikeouts in a career-high (at any level) 118 2/3 innings. The Reds are 16-5 this season in the 21 games he has started.

Last time out

On Sunday in a 10-2 Reds win over the Pirates, Burns pitched six innings and allowed one run, two hits and two walks while throwing 88 pitches and leaving with a 9-1 lead. It was his 12th consecutive winning decision.

The game included an unofficial 25-minute delay during the fourth inning because persistent showers required repair to the mound and infield. Burns kept warming up inside and actually showed even better stuff after the delay, retiring eight of his last 10 batters. He finished by striking out the side in the top of the sixth inning.

Only two other pitchers have won 12 or more consecutive decisions for the Reds since 1900. The last was Brooks Lawrence, who won 13 straight — including three in relief — in 1956. Ewell Blackwell won 16 straight decisions in 1947.

Against Washington

In two career starts, totaling 11 2/3 innings vs. the Nationals, Burns is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA, four walks and 17 strikeouts.

Burns last faced Washington during a 15-1 Reds win at Great American Ball Park on May 14. Over six scoreless innings, he allowed two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts while throwing 95 pitches.

Numbers to know

Burns has allowed fewer than three runs in 17 of his starts, tied for the most in the Majors this season.