The Cincinnati Reds will try to avoid losing any more ground in the National League postseason race as they turn to hard-throwing right-handed rookie Chase Burns for a matchup with the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
The Reds will aim to even the four-game series after being blanked 7-0 by the Pirates and their ace, Paul Skenes, on Thursday.
Burns (0-3, 6.04 ERA) has impressed with his velocity and high strikeout numbers since making his major league debut on June 24, but he has yet to secure his first victory.
He will try to change that when he opposes Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller (5-10, 3.89 ERA), who has won his past four decisions and has not taken a loss since June 21.
The Reds, who have dropped back-to-back games, are 1-6 in games Burns has started since calling him up in the wake of Hunter Greene's injury.
Burns, whom Cincinnati picked second overall in the 2024 draft out of the Wake Forest, had his start on Saturday at the Speedway Classic in Bristol, Tenn., cut short after one inning due to inclement weather. Burns pitched a perfect inning against the Atlanta Braves, striking out two.
This followed a start on July 28 against the Los Angeles Dodgers during which he gave up three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out 10 over 5 2/3 innings. It was the third consecutive start in which he fanned 10 batters.
Burns' fastball touched 100 mph or more 12 times vs. the Dodgers.
However, Burns, who will face the Pirates for the first time, has allowed plenty of hard contact. Thirteen of the 30 hits he has yielded in 28 1/3 innings have gone for extra base, including eight home runs.
"We're trying to build for the future with him and win now with him," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "I think the kid is doing a really good job. I really do. I think his future is so bright because there's going to be things he does better. But in the meantime, we'll take it."
The Pirates will try to exploit that weakness in Burns, although they are still the worst team in the majors in terms of OPS (.651) and slugging percentage (.347) and have the fewest home runs (83) and runs scored (414).
They will look to Keller to deliver a quality start, as he did the last time he faced Cincinnati. Keller allowed only two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out five over six innings on May 19 in a game the Reds won 7-1.
Keller is 3-6 with a 5.75 ERA in 18 career starts against Cincinnati.
Despite his steady performances of late, Keller did not have his best outing the last time he took the mound, on Sunday in Colorado. He gave up five runs on seven hits, including a season-high three home runs, while walking one and striking out four over five-plus innings. Still, he emerged with a 9-5 win.
Even during a run of hard-luck losses over the first three months of the season, Keller remained one of the more consistent pitchers in the Pirates' rotation. More recently, he owns a 3.56 ERA over 55 2/3 innings since June 10.
"He's been great, like we've said before, he's pitched way better than his record has shown," Pirates manager Don Kelly said after Keller's most recent start.
--Field Level Media
