The Cincinnati Reds will send their heralded rookie starting pitcher to the mound for Saturday night’s Major League Baseball Speedway Classic against the Atlanta Braves.Chase Burns will get the ball for the Reds in the historic game at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.Atlanta is sending former All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider to the mound for Saturday’s game, which begins at 7:15 p.m. ET. Burns, 23, carries a 6.46 ERA into the Speedway Classic, though that figure is inflated by a rough outing against the Boston Red Sox in June when Burns allowed seven runs and didn’t get out of the first inning.The flamethrowing Burns has four starts this season with three runs or fewer allowed and has struck out 10 batters in three straight starts, dating back to his July 11 start against the Colorado Rockies.After placing fourth in NL Cy Young award voting in 2023, Strider missed most of the 2024 season with an injury but has rebounded well in his return to action.Strider has made 14 starts in 2025, striking out 92 hitters with a 3.72 ERA.MLB announced Monday that more than 85,000 tickets have been sold, which would eclipse the MLB record for fans at a regular season game.The Reds and Braves have split the first two games of the series. Cincinnati entered Friday night three games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot.

CINCINNATI —

The Cincinnati Reds will send their heralded rookie starting pitcher to the mound for Saturday night’s Major League Baseball Speedway Classic against the Atlanta Braves.

Chase Burns will get the ball for the Reds in the historic game at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

Atlanta is sending former All-Star right-hander Spencer Strider to the mound for Saturday’s game, which begins at 7:15 p.m. ET.

Burns, 23, carries a 6.46 ERA into the Speedway Classic, though that figure is inflated by a rough outing against the Boston Red Sox in June when Burns allowed seven runs and didn’t get out of the first inning.

The flamethrowing Burns has four starts this season with three runs or fewer allowed and has struck out 10 batters in three straight starts, dating back to his July 11 start against the Colorado Rockies.

After placing fourth in NL Cy Young award voting in 2023, Strider missed most of the 2024 season with an injury but has rebounded well in his return to action.

Strider has made 14 starts in 2025, striking out 92 hitters with a 3.72 ERA.

MLB announced Monday that more than 85,000 tickets have been sold, which would eclipse the MLB record for fans at a regular season game.

The Reds and Braves have split the first two games of the series. Cincinnati entered Friday night three games behind the San Diego Padres for the final NL Wild Card spot.