Andrew Abbott's gem leads the Reds to a 4-1 win over the Cardinals on June 22, but all eyes turn to top prospect Chase Burns' upcoming MLB debut. Recap & preview.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when a sweep at the hands of the Cardinals felt inevitable, Andrew Abbott played the role of stopper, delivering a masterful performance to lead the Reds to a crucial 4-1 victory. The win not only snapped a frustrating three-game losing streak and pushed the team back over .500 at 39-38, but it also provided a much-needed morale boost. And as if that wasn't enough good news for a Sunday, the Reds dropped a bombshell: the future is officially now. Top pitching prospect Chase Burns will make his Major League debut this Tuesday in New York.
7 Innings, 1 Run, 3 Hits, 6 Strikeouts. Andrew Abbott's dominant line to stop the bleeding and salvage a win against the Cardinals.
Andrew Abbott was simply brilliant on Sunday. Needing a big performance to avoid a sweep in St. Louis, the lefty delivered one of his best starts of the season. He navigated the Cardinals lineup for seven strong innings, allowing just a single run on three hits while striking out six. The performance improved his record to an impressive 7-1 and was a textbook example of a staff ace stepping up. The bullpen followed his lead, holding the Cardinals scoreless over the final two frames, capped by a lockdown ninth from Emilio Pagán, who notched his 18th save and lowered his ERA to a sparkling 2.31.
The offense provided just enough support to make Abbott's gem stand up. Matt McLain got things started immediately with a solo home run in the first inning, his 7th of the year. While the bats weren't explosive, they were timely. TJ Friedl came through with a key RBI single, continuing his excellent season and raising his average to .290. Elly De La Cruz also chipped in with a hit and a run scored. While the recent Baseball America report noted some struggles for McLain and Spencer Steer, seeing McLain provide the early power was a welcome sight for a lineup looking for consistency.
The biggest news of the day dropped after the game: Chase Burns is coming. The Reds announced that their No. 1 prospect, and last year's No. 2 overall draft pick, will be called up to make his MLB debut on Tuesday against the New York Yankees. The 22-year-old right-hander has torn through the minor leagues and is considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. His arrival signals a significant reinforcement for the rotation and validates the organization's focus on building pitching depth, a fact highlighted in Baseball America's recent report praising the system's wealth of arms like Burns, Chase Petty, and a rehabbing Rhett Lowder.
Today's win was a breath of fresh air, a reminder of what this team can do when the pitching is on point. But the victory against the Cardinals almost feels like an appetizer for the main course. The Cincinnati Reds now head to New York to face the Yankees, and all attention will be on the mound Tuesday when Chase Burns, the most anticipated Reds pitching prospect in years, gets the ball. A new era is dawning in Cincinnati, and it starts in the Bronx.
