Reds’ Burns delivers on $105 million promise with win over Mariners
Cincinnati’s 23-year-old ace strikes out six in five scoreless innings as the club ends a long winless streak in Seattle, reinforcing his status as a Cy Young contender amidst a rebuilding roster.
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns has translated his recent $105 million contract extension into immediate on-field results, securing a 4-2 victory over the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. The win marks Burns’ 12th consecutive decision, a streak that began prior to his signing of the franchise’s largest contract and continued through his first start since the agreement was finalised three days earlier.
The 23-year-old right-hander delivered a five-inning, scoreless performance, striking out six batters while allowing only three hits and two walks. The victory was particularly significant given the Reds’ historical struggles at the venue; the team had lost 11 of its 13 all-time games at T-Mobile Park prior to this outing, ending a winless streak in Seattle that dated back to 2019.
Burns, who was drafted second overall out of Wake Forest University two years ago, is currently in his first full Major League season. He holds a 12-1 record with a 2.42 earned run average and has recorded 124 strikeouts, averaging 10.4 per nine innings. His performance has placed him among the top four pitchers in Major League Baseball in base-running wins above replacement (bWAR), with a current rating of 4.2, and positioned him as a candidate for the National League Cy Young Award.
Supporting the pitching effort, third baseman Eugenio Suárez contributed significantly with both offence and defence. Suárez hit his 13th home run of the season to establish a 2-0 lead and made a critical defensive play in the fifth inning, robbing Randy Arozarena of a hit with a backhanded stop and jump throw. In the ninth inning, designated hitter Nathaniel Lowe extended the lead with an opposite-field home run.
The Reds’ broader organisational strategy remains under scrutiny as they sit in last place. With the MLB trade deadline approaching on August 3, the club is expected to make five or more trades involving veterans. The outcome of these moves, alongside the management of Burns’ workload—he has pitched 107 2/3 innings this season—will likely determine the franchise’s competitive trajectory for the coming years.
