SEATTLE – If Chase Burns’ $105 million contract extension signaled the future of the next-gen competitive core for the Cincinnati Reds, then the future is now.
But we already knew that.
In fact, Burns picked up where he left off prior to signing the contract – where he left off before traveling to his first career All-Star game – by pitching five scoreless innings to win his 11th consecutive decision.
That he did it at T-Mobile Park in the middle game of this week’s series in Seattle in his first game since inking his big deal just three days earlier was, well, money.
Seattle’s picturesque ballpark has been a lethal siren for the Reds since it opened, the boys from Ohio losing 11 of 13 all-time at the stadium before Burns’ first start there in the 4-2 win.
The location and opponent was a nice touch in a win that otherwise meant little more in the context of these last-place Reds than what it meant for their rising ace with the one of the biggest contract in franchise history.
“I felt good,” said Burns, who took himself out of consideration to pitch in the All-Star game to give a sore groin extra rest. “Just shaking off some rust.”
In his first full season in the majors, Burns (12-1) has allowed two or fewer runs in 16 of his 19 starts.
At 107 2/3 innings pitched this season he’s also just two innings shy of last year’s career high at any level in his baseball life, which makes him one of the more intriguing storylines on this team to watch down the stretch as the Reds try to manage his workload while helping him finish a big-league season to set the stage for what comes next for him – and the competitive arc of the franchise.
“He gets it. He’s a pretty sharp kid,” said manager Terry Francona, who made the call to end Burns’ start at 91 pitches with something left in the tank. “I know he loves competing, but we do have to keep an eye on him.
“I told him there’s gonna be a day when you’re probably going to want to go out and throw two more innings. It’s just not now.”
Two years removed from being drafted second overall out of Wake Forest’s sophisticated pitching program, Burns has a 2.42 ERA and has put himself on the second-half watch list for the NL Cy Young award.
In his first start of that second half – first in 13 days – he struck out six in his five scoreless innings, walked two and allowed three hits.
“I was excited to get back out there,” Burns said. “I didn’t get to pitch in the All-Star game, so I was hungry to get back out there.”
He has 124 strikeouts (10.4 per nine innings) and ranks among the top four pitchers in the majors in bWAR (4.2).
How many of the core pitchers on the staff the Reds keep when the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline passes, as well as what kind of return they get on the five or more trades of veterans they’re expected to make, should say a lot about whether they can turn the corner back into contention after this season.
For now, nobody is saying more about that possibility than their big-money, 23-year-old right-hander with the 98-mph heater and less-hittable slider.
Cincinnati Reds to watch at MLB trade deadline
Speaking of the deadline, Tuesday’s daily trade-chip watch:
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds pitcher Chase Burns looks like money after inking mega deal
Reporting by Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Gordon Wittenmyer, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
