Chase Burns delivered a five‑plus‑inning gem on May 26, guiding the Cincinnati Reds to a 7‑2 win at Citi Field and handing New York its fifth straight loss. The victory lifted the Reds to 22‑33 overall while the Mets slipped further below .500, intensifying the battle for NL East positioning.
Burns, who notched his fourth consecutive start, allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six, giving Cincinnati a much‑needed boost as the club fights to stay within striking distance of the division leader. Both Eugenio Suárez and Elly De La Cruz contributed two‑run doubles, providing the offensive punch that complemented the pitching effort.
Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell praised the collective effort, noting that the numbers reveal a team finally clicking on both sides of the ball. Bell said the bullpen’s seamless work after Burns exited was a sign that the club’s depth is improving, and he expects the momentum to carry forward into the next series.
What does the recent performance say about the Reds’ momentum?
The Reds have won three of their last four outings, a stretch that contrasts sharply with a season‑long 22‑33 record. Their recent surge includes back‑to‑back road wins, signaling a possible turnaround as the team claws back from early‑season struggles. The streak is the longest winning stretch the club has posted since a seven‑game run in August 2023, when Cincinnati briefly surged into wildcard contention.
Statistically, the Reds have improved their run differential from –45 after 30 games to –32 after 55, reflecting tighter pitching and more consistent run production. Their team ERA has dropped from 4.78 to 4.32, while the offensive OPS has climbed from .720 to .762, driven largely by the emergence of Suárez, De La Cruz, and rookie outfielder Spencer Steer.
Key details from the May 26 game
Burns threw 5 1/3 innings, yielding an ERA+ of 135 for the night, while the bullpen preserved the lead without surrendering another run. Suárez’s two‑run double lifted him to 12 RBIs for the month, and De La Cruz’s hit marked his third multi‑RBI effort this week. The Mets’ starter, David Peterson, faltered, giving up four runs in 4 2/3 innings and losing his first six challenges before two calls were upheld in the seventh. These stats highlight a balanced attack that combined timely hitting with effective pitching.
Defensively, Cincinnati recorded zero errors, posting a perfect fielding percentage for the night. Center‑fielder De La Cruz turned a difficult leaping catch in the fourth inning that prevented a Mets rally, while third‑baseman Matt McLain fielded a hard grounder and threw out a runner at first on a close play, underscoring the team’s heightened defensive awareness.
On the Mets side, Peterson’s 68 strikeouts now rank him fifth in the National League for K/9, but his walk rate of 4.2 per nine innings remains a concern. The Mets’ bullpen, anchored by former All‑Star Edwin Díaz, surrendered two inherited runners, a factor that will likely influence New York’s upcoming roster moves.
Key Developments
- Burns improved his season ERA to 3.42, the lowest among Reds starters with at least five starts. His strikeout‑to‑walk ratio of 2.6 is the best in the club’s rotation, edging out veteran pitcher Nick Lodolo, who sits at 3.57.
- The Reds’ total hits this game reached 13, the most they have recorded in a road game since July 2024, when they tied the franchise record with 15 hits against the Chicago Cubs.
- Suárez’s two‑run double was his fifth of the season, tying his personal best for a single campaign and moving him into third place on the Reds’ all‑time single‑season doubles list (behind Pete Rose and Johnny Bench).
- Elly De La Cruz’s seventh‑inning double drove in the go‑ahead run; it was his 15th extra‑base hit of the season, placing him among the NL’s top ten for total bases per game (1.84).
- Despite the loss, Peterson’s strikeout total rose to 68, keeping him in the top five NL pitchers for K/9 and reinforcing his value as a frontline starter for New York.
Historical context: Reds vs. Mets in recent years
Since 2020, the Reds have held a 12‑9 edge over the Mets in regular‑season matchups, but the games have often been low‑scoring affairs. The 7‑2 result marks the most runs Cincinnati has scored against New York since a 9‑5 victory at Great American Ball Park in August 2022. In that game, rookie pitcher Nick Lodolo threw a complete game shutout, a performance that foreshadowed the club’s reliance on young arms in 2026.
New York’s five‑game losing streak is the longest the Mets have endured since a seven‑game slide in August 2023, a period that saw them tumble from second place to the basement of the NL East. The current slump has reignited debates about the future of their front office, especially after the June 1 trade deadline approaches.
Coaching strategies that paid off
David Bell’s decision to pull Burns after 5 1/3 innings, despite his low pitch count (88), was rooted in a data‑driven approach emphasizing bullpen freshness. Bell leaned on reliever Nick Martini, who threw a perfect 1‑2‑3 ninth, and left‑hander Nick Anderson, who secured the 13th inning with a strikeout‑only frame. The Reds’ bullpen collectively posted a 2.97 ERA over the past month, a marked improvement from the 4.65 ERA recorded in the first half of the season.
Offensively, Bell shifted Suárez to the leadoff spot for the second time this season, a move that paid dividends as Suárez set the table with a single and later delivered the pivotal double. The lineup also featured a strategic left‑right batter split, giving De La Cruz the advantage of seeing more right‑handed pitching, which aligns with his .340 career batting average against right‑handed starters.
Impact and what’s next for Cincinnati
Looking forward, the Reds return home to face the Washington Nationals on May 30, a matchup that could solidify their recent upswing if Burns repeats his dominance. The Nationals have struggled to a 20‑35 record and rank last in NL runs per game (3.8), presenting a favorable matchup for Cincinnati’s pitching staff.
The win also nudges the Reds closer to a wildcard berth, keeping them within five games of the second‑place team in the NL East. However, their overall record still lags, meaning every series will be critical as the front office evaluates the trade‑deadline options. General manager Nick Krall has identified Burns, Suárez, and De La Cruz as core pieces, but he is also reportedly exploring a mid‑season acquisition for a left‑handed reliever to bolster a bullpen that gave up three inherited runners in the previous series against the Mets.
For the Mets, the loss underscores the urgency of addressing their bullpen depth. The club’s recent reliance on a stretched‑out Díaz has raised concerns about durability, and a potential trade for a veteran right‑hander such as Seattle’s Logan Gilbert is being discussed at the front‑office level.
Expert analysis
Baseball analyst Jeff Passan of ESPN noted, “Burns is finally showing the command that got him a first‑round pick in 2022. His ability to locate the fastball on the low‑outside corner and mix in a sharp slider makes him a true ace candidate for a rebuilding Reds club.” Passan also highlighted Suárez’s plate discipline, pointing out his 0.382 OBP this month, the highest of any Reds hitter since Joey Votto in 2019.
Former NL pitcher and current Fox Sports commentator Trevor Hoffman added, “The Reds’ defensive alignment against the Mets was textbook. By shifting the infield to the left side of the plate, they turned what could have been a two‑run single into a ground‑out, effectively neutralizing New York’s left‑handed power batters.”
Statistical projection models from FanGraphs now give Cincinnati a 17% chance of clinching a wildcard spot, up from 10% a week earlier. The model attributes the jump to the Reds’ improved run differential and a schedule that includes a favorable road trip against the low‑scoring Nationals and Phillies.
FAQs
How many runs have the Reds scored in their last five games?
In the five games preceding the Mets win, Cincinnati tallied 28 runs, averaging 5.6 per game, a notable increase from their season average of 4.2 (ESPN recap).
What is Chase Burns’ career win–loss record after this start?
Burns improved to 7‑15 on the season, bringing his career record to 42‑137, reflecting a steady climb since his 2023 debut (ESPN recap).
Did the Reds’ defense commit any errors in the game?
The Reds recorded zero errors, posting a perfect fielding percentage for the night, which helped preserve the two‑run lead after the fifth inning (ESPN recap).