NEW YORK -- It was almost one year ago when Reds starting pitcher Chase Burns introduced himself to Major League Baseball. The flamethrowing Burns announced his presence with authority against the Yankees, striking out each of his first five batters on June 24, 2025, in Cincinnati.
On Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium, Burns faced the Yankees for a second time.
“It’ll be interesting because he’s kind of a different pitcher now," manager Terry Francona said before the game. "He’s got the slider that’s really becoming a weapon. He’s got more starts under his belt so it’s fun to watch his progression.”
The 23-year-old Burns didn't bring triple-digit velocity, and he had to grind his way through the Yankees’ lineup. But he continued his season-long groove as the Reds took a 4-1 win over New York.
Burns threw 96 pitches (64 strikes) in only five innings.
“Just battling. I think execution could have been better," Burns said. "I think I was a couple of pitches away from six innings, but just how we battled as a team and got a good win.”
While Burns allowed five hits and three walks to go along with seven strikeouts, the only run he yielded came on a one-out solo home run from Ben Rice in the bottom of the third inning. Rice, who hit an 0-2 fastball to right-center field, also took Burns deep in his debut last year.
Burns' fastball garnered only two whiffs out of 20 Yankees swings, which is unusual for the pitcher.
"You’re not going to feel your best every time," Burns said. "You’re not going to have your swing-and-miss stuff every time. But just going out there and trying to put up as many zeros as possible.”
Said Francona: “Sometimes a lineup will do that to you, too. That leadoff kid [Rice], I don’t know how many guys in the league I’ve seen hit that ball off Chase. That’s probably up above the strike zone at 98."
After Rice's homer, Burns allowed only an infield single to Cody Bellinger later in the third inning and a leadoff single to right field by Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the fourth. He notched five of his strikeouts with his elite slider.
“Just classic Burns," catcher Tyler Stephenson said. "It’s a lot of fun. He’s still young, he’s still growing. He’s having to learn. It’s just growth that he’s continuing to have, continuing to evolve. He’s far from a finished product, but when he is a finished product, it’s going to be very special.”
How much did Burns think he had grown over a calendar year?
“A lot," Burns replied. "I think I was throwing every pitch as hard as I could last year around that time. But this year, just developing as a pitcher – it’s been huge. I’ve made some huge strides.
“Just execution, being able to move the fastball around. My changeup was really good today because I know they have a lot of lefties. Just getting those three pitches and executing.”
An answer to Rice's homer came in the top of the fourth inning. A two-out single by Noelvi Marte against Yankees prospect Elmer Rodríguez extended the inning for Stephenson, who scorched a 3-1 fastball into the visitors’ bullpen in left-center field for three runs and the lead. Marte’s RBI ground-rule double to right field added an insurance run in the top of the ninth.
Cincinnati (37-39) took two of three games from the Yankees to claim its second straight series after it had dropped the previous five in a row. It came amid an important stretch of schedule which now has the National League Central-leading Brewers for six of the next nine games and three vs. the Pirates.
Meanwhile, All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz and key reliever Pierce Johnson are both expected back during the next series.
“They’re a big part of the team, so to have them back and if we keep doing what we’re doing, it’ll be huge," Stephenson said.
Burns improved to 9-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 15 starts as he further bolstered his credentials for the All-Star Game. Over his past nine starts, the right-hander is 6-0 with a 1.57 ERA.
“Absolutely. I think the numbers speak for itself," Stephenson said. “I know he’s got high standards but outings like this, to go through things like this, it’s going to make him an even better pitcher. It just shows a lot whenever a pitcher is able to throw anything they want, wherever they want, that’s special. But to not feel good and still go out and do what he did against a very good team, it’s still really impressive.”