Chase Burns faces Cardinals in first career start Wednesday

Chase Burns makes his first career start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday at Great American Ball Park, aiming to keep a sensational sophomore season rolling after rebounding from a rare rough outing with seven shutout innings against Miami. The Reds All-Star enters at 14-2 with a 2.47 ERA.

After a subpar start, Burns got right back on track last time out. Cincinnati will lean on its ace again as the club tries to capitalize on a 17-6 record whenever he takes the mound. For fans tracking must-see pitching matchups, this one belongs on your Streaming & TV Alerts radar.

Key Takeaways

• Burns is 14-2 with a 2.47 ERA, 151 strikeouts and 131 innings across 23 starts in his sophomore season.
• He ranks second in the NL in wins and third in ERA and opponents' batting average (.204), putting him in National League Cy Young Award conversations.
• Wednesday marks Burns' first career start against St. Louis; he previously faced the Cardinals in relief on Sept. 17 last season.
• He has won 13 of his past 14 decisions, including 12 in a row from April 21 through Aug. 2.
• After struggling at Washington on Aug. 8, Burns threw seven shutout innings with eight strikeouts and no walks against Miami.

Why does Chase Burns' start against the Cardinals matter?

Burns has been one of the most dominant starters in the National League this season. A contender for the NL Cy Young Award, he has overpowered hitters while keeping the Reds competitive whenever he pitches.

Cincinnati's 17-6 mark in Burns' starts underscores how central he is to the rotation. Wednesday's matchup at Great American Ball Park gives him a chance to extend that success against a division rival he has barely faced at the major league level.

How has Chase Burns performed in 2026?

In 23 starts and 131 innings, Burns is 14-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 151 strikeouts. He ranks second in the NL in wins and third in both ERA and opponents' batting average (.204).

He has won 13 of his past 14 decisions, a stretch that included 12 consecutive victories from April 21 through Aug. 2. That run cemented his reputation as one of the league's most reliable arms.

What happened in Burns' last two outings?

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.

He responded emphatically on Friday against the Marlins. Burns threw seven shutout innings on four hits, no walks and eight strikeouts while throwing 93 pitches in a 1-0 Reds win. All four hits were singles, no runners got beyond second base, and lefty hitters were 2-for-15 against him.

It was the first time in the big leagues he pitched seven scoreless innings without issuing a walk.

Has Chase Burns ever faced the Cardinals before?

This will be Burns' first career start against the Cardinals. He did face them in relief on Sept. 17 last season during a 6-2 Reds win at St. Louis.

In that appearance, the right-hander threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out one. Wednesday gives him a full-game opportunity to build on that brief track record.

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