Chase Burns is making sure the Cincinnati Reds' season stays on track, and after another dominant outing, he's quick to share the spotlight with the man behind the plate.
The 23-year-old right-hander delivered six scoreless innings Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, allowing just two hits while striking out seven and walking two in a 15-1 blowout win over the Washington Nationals. It was Burns' fifth victory against just one loss this season—and his fourth straight quality start.
With Hunter Greene still working his way back from elbow rehab, Burns has essentially been the glue holding Cincinnati's rotation together. And right now, that glue is sticking. The win pushed the Reds to 22-21, good for fifth in the NL Central and still very much in the wild card conversation.
Coming off an eight-game losing streak earlier this month and two ugly nights against Washington to open the series, Cincinnati needed a stopper. Burns answered the call.
But when reporters asked what was working for him, he didn't talk about his triple-digit fastball or his devastating slider. Instead, he pointed directly at his battery mate.
Veteran catcher Jose Trevino has been behind the dish for most of Burns' starts, and the young pitcher wanted to make sure that partnership got its due.
"Me and him have gotten really close over this past year, and that guy believes in me," Burns said. "So just having a lot of confidence in me, and he trusts me, and I trust him. So big shout out to Trevino."
That bond started forming last season and carried through spring training, and it's paying off in a big way. Burns has now allowed two runs or fewer in six straight starts and in eight of his nine outings this season. Over his last three starts, he's given up just one earned run total.
The former No. 2 overall pick out of Wake Forest brings elite stuff—a fastball that touches triple digits and a slider that ranks among the nastiest in the game. But when a young arm trusts his catcher completely, he can stop thinking and just let it rip. That's exactly what's happening in Cincinnati right now.