Cincinnati Reds right-hander Chase Burns delivered his worst career start in a 5-0 defeat to the San Francisco Giants. The All-Star gave up two runs before recording his first out and surrendered five runs through 3⅔ innings, exiting in the fourth inning after 64 pitches against a Giants lineup that made consistent hard contact.
Burns, who signed a $105 million extension last month, recorded his third loss of the season. His ERA climbed to 2.77, dropping him from third in the National League to a lower standing in the Cy Young Award race, which he had been competing in alongside Philadelphia's Cristopher Sanchez and Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski.
Manager Terry Francona pulled Burns early with an eye toward managing his workload in his first full major-league season. The Reds face upcoming starts against contenders including the Cubs, Brewers, Dodgers and Braves as the team prioritizes Burns' long-term health and durability through the remainder of the season.
