Burns seeks to keep sensational season rolling in 1st start vs. Cardinals

CINCINNATI -- After a subpar start, Reds All-Star Chase Burns got right back on track last time out. On Wednesday, Burns will seek to keep his sensational season rolling when he faces the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park.

In his sophomore season, Burns is 14-2 with a 2.47 ERA in 23 starts and 131 innings while he has struck out 151 batters.

A contender for the National League Cy Young Award, Burns is ranked second in the NL in wins, third in ERA and opponents' batting average (.204). He has won 13 of his past 14 decisions (including 12 decisions in a row from April 21-Aug. 2).

Cincinnati has a 17-6 record when Burns starts.

Two outings ago at Washington on Aug. 8, Burns had a rare rough outing during an 8-2 loss. He gave up five runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts.

For a nice rebound on Friday vs. the Marlins, Burns threw seven shutout innings with four hits, no walks and eight strikeouts while throwing 93 pitches for a 1-0 Reds win. All four hits were singles.

It was the first time in the big leagues he pitched seven scoreless innings without issuing a walk. No runners got beyond second base, and lefty hitters were 2-for-15 against him.

This will be Burns' first career start against the Cardinals, but he did face them in relief on Sept. 17 last season. During a 6-2 Reds’ win at St. Louis, the right-hander threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth and allowed two hits and one walk while striking out one.