When you think of the Cincinnati Reds' early-season MVP, one name is quickly rising to the top: starting pitcher Chase Burns. Through the first quarter of the season, Burns has been nothing short of electric, and his consistency on the mound has become the backbone of the Reds' success—or the missing piece when things go wrong.

Simply put, when the Reds get consistent pitching, they win. And no one has been more consistent than Burns. "He looks better every single time," said Reds second baseman Matt McLain. "He comes out there to attack."

That attack mode was on full display Thursday, May 14, when Burns tossed six scoreless innings in a dominant 15-1 win over the Washington Nationals. He allowed just two hits, struck out seven, and walked two, picking up his fourth straight win. Over his last three starts, he's surrendered only one earned run. Following that performance, his ERA sat at 1.87—good for eighth-best in all of Major League Baseball.

But it's not just the numbers that stand out; it's the timing. Just last Saturday, Burns effectively ended the Reds' eight-game losing streak with a gritty six-inning, one-run outing against the Houston Astros. "Like a lot of good pitchers, he kind of has the ability to be his own reliever," said Reds manager Terry Francona, drawing a comparison to future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. "I'm not saying he doesn't have a lot of Major League starts, but I used to say that about Verlander all the time. He had another great outing. He showed it."

What made that start against the Astros particularly impressive? Burns didn't even have his best stuff. Typically, he thrives on swing-and-miss dominance—thanks to elite fastball velocity and a slider with nasty movement that leaves hitters off-balance. But against Houston, he proved he can pitch even when his A-game isn't there. "Every time I threw a slider, I felt like I didn't get it down enough," Burns admitted. Still, he found a way to get outs, and by the final innings, his emotion and energy were palpable. "I'm trying to go out there and put zeros on the board," he said. "That's the game."

Burns' emergence couldn't come at a better time. The Reds' rotation has been hit hard by injuries. Rhett Lowder is expected to land on the injured list with shoulder discomfort after struggling with inconsistent command, and he recently received an injection in his AC joint—though no timeline for his return has been shared. Meanwhile, Brandon Williamson is projected to miss two months due to a shoulder issue.

In the midst of all that uncertainty, Burns has stepped up as the steady, reliable force the Reds desperately need. Whether he's flashing elite stuff or grinding through a start without his best pitches, one thing is clear: Chase Burns is playing like the team's MVP, and he's just getting started.