PHILADELPHIA − At this rate, Chase Burns will be at Citizens Bank Park in mid-July for the MLB All-Star Game. He used his lone regular-season appearance at the venue for the Cincinnati Reds to strengthen his case for a return trip.
Against the Philadelphia Phillies, the hottest team in baseball entering the series against his Reds, Burns made the hosts look decidedly average over six innings of one-run, three-hit baseball. Burns walked none and struck out nine, using 86 pitches.
The 86th and final pitch rocketed back at Burns, striking him on the inner thigh at nearly 109 mph off the bat of Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper. Maybe Burns could have gone back out for the seventh inning. The come-backer made it an easier decision to lift him, Reds manager Terry Francona said.
By night’s end, and after Francona and Burns had both made light of where Harper’s line drive hit him, the Reds were 4-1 winners over the Phillies. Burns improved to 6-1 on the year. His ERA ticked down to 1.83.
As the Reds have labored through May with a 5-13 record, Burns has acted as an all-purpose weapon. He’s accounted for three of the team’s five wins, and prevented the club from dropping below .500.
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Chase Burns in May for the Cincinnati Reds
May 3 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates: Seven innings, no runs, three hits, one walk, seven strikeouts (no decision, 3-1; 2.20 ERA)
May 9 vs. Houston Astros: Six innings, one run, four hits, three walks, two strikeouts (W, 4-1; 2.11 ERA)
May 14 vs. Washington Nationals: Six innings, no runs, two hits, two walks, seven strikeouts (W, 5-1; 1.87 ERA)
May 19 vs. Philadelphia Phillies: Six innings, one run, three hits, no walks, nine strikeouts (W, 6-1; 1.83 ERA)
Almost as important as the wins, Burns has helped provide rest to a beleaguered bullpen, and served as a reliable commodity at a time when starter (Brandon Williamson, Rhett Lowder) and bullpen arms (Emilio Pagán) alike fell victim to injury.
“There’s been some days when we’ve been kind of up against it, and he’s given us what we needed,” Francona said. “He’s good and he’s young and he’s learning fast. We appreciate that.”
Burns doesn’t assign himself baseball monikers like “stopper,” but he agreed with the suggestion that he relishes the moments when his team needs him beyond a doubt.
“I just go out there and try to do my job to the best of my ability and, you know, if I can put up as many zeroes as a I can, I did my job and helped the team win,” Burns said. “We’re gonna have good times. We’re going to have bad times. But it’s just about weathering the storm and giving 100% every time I go out.”
Burns’ early-season All-Star Game bona fides become clear when you see his success isn’t limited to May.
Chase Burns #26 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts in the sixth inning during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on May 19, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
His start in Philadelphia was his seventh of at least six innings, and his ninth consecutive start of at least five-plus innings. The last time Burns didn’t pitch into the sixth inning was March 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates − his first start of the season.
Burns’ six wins are tied for second among all starters. His 1.83 ERA ranks fifth in baseball and No. 2 in the National League, just below 2025 NL Cy Young Award runner-up Cristopher Sánchez’s 1.82 mark.
Burns is also fourth in the NL in innings (59.0) and fifth in strikeouts (64).
The possibility of a return trip to Philadelphia in July for baseball’s Midsummer Classic isn’t a serious consideration yet, Burns indicated, but the conversation about his candidacy seemed to officially begin post-game on May 19 in the Citizens Bank Park visitors’ clubhouse.
“It (the All-Star Game) might be in the back of my mind somewhere,” Burns said, “but I just try to go out there and do my job.”
On May 19, the Reds’ victory allowed them to improve to 25-24, and stave off dropping below .500 for the first time since they were 0-1 on Opening Day. The Phillies, who roared to a 25-23 record after starting the year with a 9-19 mark, lost for just the fifth time since now-former manager Rob Thomson was fired April 28.
Burns was supported by two Reds offensive rallies. Cincinnati’s bats twice loaded the bases with no outs − in the fourth and seventh innings − and scored two runs from both opportunities.
Elly De La Cruz started the rally in the fourth inning with a triple and later scored Cincinnati’s opening run. De La Cruz also drove a run in with a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.
Dane Myers and JJ Bleday hit back-to-back sacrifice flies in the fourth to put the Reds up, 2-1. Matt McLain drove in a run on a check-swing that produced a grounder, was fielded by Harper but was late to catcher Rafael Marchán for the force out at home.
The play was initially ruled an out, but the Reds successfully challenged the play. Replay showed Blake Dunn was safe at home.
Burns also got an assist from the club’s ailing bullpen. A night after the Reds saw a hard-fought 4-3 lead evaporate on a two-run homer by Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott in the eighth inning, relievers Pierce Johnson, Sam Moll and Tony Santillan closed out the final three innings.
The Reds will go for a series victory against the Phillies Wednesday, May 20 (1:05 p.m. EDT). Opening Day starter Andrew Abbott (3-2, 4.21 ERA) will be opposed by Phillies veteran, Aaron Nola (2-3, 5.91 ERA).
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Chase Burns leads Cincinnati Reds to win over Philadelphia Phillies