Chase Burns picks up first career win for Reds

Reds pitcher tosses five scoreless innings against Pirates in season debut

Mar. 31, 2026 at 1:09am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the motion of a baseball pitcher, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the various movements and perspectives of the delivery.Chase Burns' dominant debut outing for the Reds showcases his potential as a rising star in Cincinnati's pitching rotation.Today in Pittsburgh

Chase Burns, a Cincinnati Reds pitcher, tossed five scoreless innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his 2026 season debut, allowing just three walks and a single while striking out seven batters. Burns collected his first career big-league win, though his pitch count was kept lower early in the season due to range-of-motion issues flagged by Reds staffers during spring training.

Why it matters

Burns is an up-and-coming pitcher for the Reds who is looking to establish himself in the starting rotation this season after debuting in 2025. His strong outing against the Pirates shows he has the potential to be an effective starter for Cincinnati, which is important for a team looking to build on its recent success.

The details

Burns allowed just one hit - a single by Pittsburgh's Spencer Horwitz in the fifth inning - while striking out seven batters over his five scoreless innings. He was removed after 78 pitches due to the Reds' plan to limit his workload early in the season following some range-of-motion issues flagged during spring training. Relievers Jose Franco, Graham Ashcraft, and Connor Phillips finished off the win for Cincinnati.

  • Burns made his 2026 season debut on March 30.
  • In 2025, Burns appeared in 14 games, making nine starts, and posted an 0-3 record after debuting on June 24 against the New York Yankees.
  • On March 13, Burns exited a Cactus League contest against the San Francisco Giants unexpectedly early, lasting just two innings.
  • Five days later, on March 18, Burns was back on track and in the thick of a competition for a spot in the Reds' starting rotation.

The players

Chase Burns

A pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds who tossed five scoreless innings in his 2026 season debut, picking up his first career big-league win.

Spencer Horwitz

A Pittsburgh Pirates player who broke up Burns' no-hit bid with a single in the fifth inning.

Jose Franco

A late addition to the Reds' Opening Day roster who made his Major League debut in relief of Burns.

Graham Ashcraft

A Reds pitcher who logged the final out of the seventh inning and three more outs in the eighth to preserve Burns' win.

Connor Phillips

The Reds pitcher who locked up the save to preserve Burns' first career victory.

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What they’re saying

“Chase Burns kept a no-hitter alive for most of his 2026 debut for the Cincinnati Reds.”

— Pat Brennan, Author

What’s next

Burns will look to build on his strong debut outing and solidify his spot in the Reds' starting rotation as the season progresses.

The takeaway

Chase Burns' impressive debut performance, in which he tossed five scoreless innings and earned his first career big-league win, demonstrates his potential to be an effective starter for the Cincinnati Reds this season. The team's plan to manage his workload early on due to range-of-motion issues will be key to keeping him healthy and productive throughout the year.