The Cincinnati Reds played one of their most complete games in 2026 on Thursday afternoon. Chase Burns struck out seven batters in six shutout innings. The defense made several outstanding defensive plays. And the offense went nuclear with JJ Bleday leading the way with two home runs and six runs batted in as Cincinnati picked up a 15-1 win to avoid being swept by the Washington Nationals in their 3-game series.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals (21-23) | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (23-21) | 15 | 14 | 3 |
| W: Burns (5-1) L: Griffin (4-2) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Cincinnati Reds struck first on Thursday afternoon. After Spencer Steer led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a single it was Matt McLain starting the scoring with a 2-run home run to center. In the next half inning Chase Burns found himself in trouble after giving up a 1-out double, but it was Steer to the rescue as he made an inning ending sliding catch right at the line to save a run and end the top of the 3rd.
Things started going well again for Cincinnati in the bottom of the 4th inning with one out. Once again it was Steer getting things started with a single. Blake Dunn and Matt McLain both drew 2-out walks to load the bases. Jose Trevino then singled into center to bring in two runs. Ke’Bryan Hayes then lined a double into the left field corner to push two more runs across the plate and make it a 6-0 game.
The home team went back to work in the bottom of the 5th inning. Elly De La Cruz lined a double to the left field fence to start the inning. Spencer Steer would walk with one out, and then JJ Bleday turned on an 88 MPH cutter and hit it deep into the seats in right field for a 3-run home run to push the lead to 9-0.
Chase Burns had been cruising through the Nationals lineup most of the day, but he found himself in a little bit of trouble in the top of the 6th inning when he gave up a 1-out double and then issued a 2-out walk as his pitch count rose to 92 on the afternoon. Burns fell behind 2-0 to Jacob Young and then got a mound visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson. His next pitch was a 95 MPH fastball that Young his into left-center, but Dane Myers made a diving catch to end the threat and keep the shutout alive.
In the bottom of the 7th inning Elly De La Cruz picked up his second hit of the day on a single the other way into left field. He came around to score when JJ Bleday hit a 2-run home run into the first row of seats in right field – his second homer of the day – as Cincinnati extended their lead to 11-0.
Washington would get on the board in the 8th inning. Luis Mey would give up a single and then a 1-out walk. With runners on the corners and two outs he fired a wild pitch that brought in the Nationals first run of the day before Mey would pick up a strikeout to end the top of the frame.
Down by 10 runs the Washington sent outfielder Joey Wiemer to the mound to save their bullpen from having to use a pitcher in a game with almost no chance of winning. Matt McLain and Ke’Bryan Hayes picked up singles before Dane Myers crushed a 3-run home run on the first pitch he saw. Another run would come in when the right fielder completely misread the ball and couldn’t recover in time as JJ Bleday picked up another RBI to make it 15-1. Connor Phillips came out and pitched a 1-2-3 9th to end the game as the Reds were able to avoid being swept at home for the first time since 2024.
Key Moment of the Game
The rally in the 4th inning that turned a 2-0 game into a 6-0 game.
Notes Worth Noting
JJ Bleday has been hitting well since joining the Reds but his 3-hit day in this one pushed his line to .321/.455/.755 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (10) in his first 16 games with the club.
Elly De La Cruz has had multiple hits in six straight games. He, along with Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, and Ke’Bryan Hayes all had two hits on the day.
It seems like it should be impossible, but Ke’Bryan Hayes drove in more runners on his double in the 4th inning that weren’t himself than he had in the rest of the season combined. Hayes entered the day with three runs batted in on the day, but he had homered twice – meaning only one of his three runs batted in were him pushing a teammate across the plate.
Chase Burns lowered his ERA to 1.87 on the season through his first nine starts. He picked up the win on the day and is now 5-1 with 53.0 innings pitched, 35 hits allowed, 18 walks, and 55 strikeouts on the year.
Foster Griffin entered the day having made eight starts and he had allowed just 11 earned runs. Cincinnati dropped nine earned runs on that line in this game and his ERA went from 2.12 to 3.53 during the game.
P.J. Higgins has cleared waivers after the Reds designated him for assignment yesterday when they signed Chris Paddack and needed a spot on the 40-man roster. Cincinnati outrighted him to Triple-A. Higgins has been outrighted previously in his career so he has the choice to refuse the outright and become a free agent if he would like to take that option. Update: Higgins accepted his assignment and is back with Louisville.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Cleveland Guardians
Friday May 15th, 7:10pm ET
Andrew Abbott (2-2, 4.47 ERA) vs Tanner Bibee (0-5, 4.17 ERA)
this Chase Burns guy is a keeper.
Keep him from getting injured, if possible.
Keep your fingers crossed that those rascally trainers do not do anything to him.
At his age and this point in his career, he has better control of the zone and more of a variety of pitches than Hunter Greene. It will be a big boost when Hunter comes back.
Hopefully, Andrew Abbott can keep pitching the same way, and Nick Lodolo rounds into shape and his pitching gets stronger.
I still think that Rhett Lowder will be back …..in a while. Maybe a month, maybe less.
I hope then the Red can keep their collective noses above water and not fall too far behind the Cubs and/or a Wild Card spot. If their pitching staff rounds out in late June, they could make a real charge in the last 80-90 games of the season.
Hope springs eternal in the little hearts of Reds fans.
Woo-hoo — need more games like this!
That probably puts Bleday’s OPS+ over 200 now. Won’t last, but it sure will be fun while it does. If he can finish at 120 or better, I’ll retract what I said about Krall and this signing. And this is one of those rare times when I’d rather be wrong.
You wont be wrong. These guys are what they are. They will win enough to keep most of the commenters here happy but will always resort back to what they are (below replacement level). I am convinced there are bots in the Reds comment sections, or there are ALOT of people satisfied with a team holding north american professional sport’s longest playoff series winning drought. They complain about cheap ownership but ok with a GM who has paid over 50 million dollars to players before their contracts are up due to bad signings. This team is full of streaky hitters and they will continue to do so.
Did it ever occur to you that “bad signings” are a function of an ownership that refuses to allow the pursuit of meaningful players and is instead demanding that the front office do more with much less?
I get so tired of this clueless criticism, as if the rest of baseball is thriving on $2m signings mandated by ownership.
By all means cite the Brewers. That’s all you angry fans do.
Dude, you have moved into full-on predictable uselessness around here.
What’s the point of you even showing up any more and repeating…ad nauseam…your tired litany of your ad hominem complaints?
You may not be capable of finding anything better to do with your sanctimony, but I’m sure there’s something useful you can contribute somewhere.
Somewhere else.
Just skip Richard’s comments then, CenTexRed. A lot of us find them thought provoking, It’s okay, at least for a little while longer, to disagree with people and say so. If you disagree with what he says, argue the point. I don’t think that you need to defend Justin T’s position: he’s clearly capable of doing so himself.
Well 1 WAR is worth 8 million and Bleday is at 0.7 so he has out produced his contract of 1.4 million. Right now Bleday is a everyday player over Dunn,Benson,Friedl,Meyers. It’s early but if he bats .250 with 20 bombs I would take that.
I’d probably dance in the street if he did that. And he very well might, because he seems to have the rare gift of not being half of a platoon.
Talk about run support … WOW!!!! 😮
C’mon fellas! Don’t use up all of the runs before the Cleveland series. 🙂 Good win today!
+1000
IS Chase Burns a rookie ? I thought he was but I’m confused I read an article on MLB I think it was Monday about theNL rookie of the year race Mets rookie was in first place Sal Stewart was in second place not only was CHase Burns not among the leadershewanteven in the honorable mentions . Yet his are easily better across the page than the Mets rookie. What I’m I missing
He spent more than 45 days on the active roster last year before September. Last year was considered his rookie year, even though he didn’t exceed the innings pitched limit.
Chase Burns is a stud. He is the stopper and potential ace of this staff. Even when the whole staff is healthy.
He’s been great really since he came up (except for that game in Fenway I took a bunch of people to last year…). Would like to see him be a bit more pitch efficient to get into the later innings. Fun to watch! I am concerned about an overall innings limit for him – we’d want him in the rotation if we hang on and make the playoffs.
Yeah I agree completely. Sorry that was a game you had to suffer through…if you could possibly suffer at Fenway.
I was at that game, too. Shocking.
That’s probably true, and even more impressive when you can legitimately call Greene an Ace, not just the teams Ace, but an actual Ace. That would be a heck of a 1, 2 punch at the top of the rotation in any playoff series.
Greene
2024 2.75 ERA / 150.1 IP
2025 2.76 ERA / 107.2
Back to back years of that kind of production at least puts you into the conversation for being a true ACE. L
I’ll take a win every time but not sure what’s more frustrating: 1) losing the way they did yesterday, 2) getting in hitting rut where they can’t score more than 1-2 runs a game while consistently going 1-10 with RISP for a week at time, 3) watch them score 15 runs in a game and wonder why there’s no consistency on the offense, 4) all of the above and watch the Reds get shut out tomorrow
I pick number 4.
I’ve noticed a pattern over the years that in the game after a blowout a team, not only the Reds, are often shutout or find it tough to score a run or two. We’ll see.
It was absolutely unexpected the bottom of the order (McLain, Trevino and Hayes) driving in 6 runs today against Griffin…Baseball is fun..
This score can make up a bit the Reds run differential…
It’s curious I can feel very good about Bleday’s performance since he reached the big league club but the Reds are 4-11 in that stretch so…
Bleday has 16 RBI in 16 games. Even with 4 today, Hayes and Trvino have 7 all year!
It coincided with Sal getting in a deep slump and a stretch of terrible pitching except for Burns and Abbott. Bleday has been a joy to watch.
Like I said after Hinds busted….give me another shot with this Bleday guy.
43 doubles & 20 bombs in Oakland Colosseum in 2024 has to convert to atleast 28-30 bombs if he played full-time in Cincy at that level
They’ll start throwing soft stuff away or pitching around him with this lineup, but its still a ray of hope in a landfill full of sewage.
Chase Burns, ACE.
Lower ERA than a couple nobodies named Skenes and Misiorowski.
Last I saw, Skenes was 1.98 ERA this season despite a very bad start. His ERA was 1.96 in 2024 and 1.97 in 2025.
Can someone please explain to me like I’m 2 the following: Sal Stewart has an OPS of .798. BBref has him at 0.9 WAR. Spencer Steer has an OPS of .782. His WAR is 0.0. They basically play the same position, so why such a wide disparity??
Even crazier–Sam Moll, perfectly serviceable this year, has a 0.1 WAR in 17 IP, more than Steer.
Make it make sense!
Spencer Steer is a worse defender (according to the metrics they use) and Sal Stewart is 9-for-9 in steals while also being a better hitter.
But also, Bref isn’t counting today’s game, so Stewart’s margin in OPS is larger than your post has it.
“Of course you realize, this means WAR!” – stuff Bugs Bunny said.
Bugs was an underrated American philosopher.
What do you mean “was”? DID SOMETHING HAPPEN TO BUGS?!
“Killed a wabbit, now he’s dead!” – stuff Elmer Fudd said
No, no. Nothing like that, Doug: I just meant that he’s now getting the acclaim he deserves.
You made me smile Rednat
I hope they don’t move McLain back to the top of the order based on a couple of good games. Want him to do well, but he hits better in the lower third, an area where they need more production.
Edwin Arroyo another home run. He needs to be starting at 3b on Monday.
Yes, an interesting take on the matter. I think Edwin Arroyo is “ready”. At least call him up and give him some ML AB’s and see what happens. Of course, after today, Ke’Bryan Hayes is on a hot hitting streak.
If young Mr. Arroyo comes up, who goes “down” to visit Louisville?
And what about Noelvi Marte? An observation is that overall, the pitching at the AAA level (at least in the International League) is pretty thin. A lot of people putting up a lot of crooked numbers. Anybody that is pitching at all well at AAA is going to be up in the Majors with almost any team. Everybody is scrambling for pitching.
Witness the Reds. After Spring Training, a lot of us thought that the AAA staff was pretty loaded. Well, not so much, after all.
People said that about Denis Menke in 1973. Call up Driessen (.409 BA in AAA) to play 3B. It worked (Driessen hit .300 that year) but 3B was not his natural position.
Menke never improved his BA much, but his OBP remained high.
Edwin Arroyo just capped a 6 pitch PA with a long game lead off home run for the AAA Bats.
It clocked out at 107.8 mph EV.
How long are they going to keep him down on the farm? 😉
Until after he’s seen Paris?
+1000
There is a Paris, Kentucky. Not sure where, in relation to Louisville.
Paris, KY is about 25 miles NE of Lexington and close to 100 miles east of Louisville.
But do they pronounce it “paree?”
Until they deem the farm work done? 😉 He was 2-3 with a walk. That one out made may have cost him. 🙂
Trick Question! The work is never done on a farm!
“Trick Question! The work is never done on a farm!”
Yeah I know. haha 🙂
Hinds’ turn. 434 feet. EV was 113.9mph. Gameday says it was a center/center sinker. Bats lead 4-2, and have hit 3 solo shots.
Rece Hinds PROVED that after 28 official at bats this year with the Reds, that he can’t hit major league pitching.
Yup, 28 official at bats. That’s the story.
Hinds has had 36 PA and 33 ABs with the Reds in 2026. Striking out in half of his plate appearances and garnering a 4 OPS+ didn’t help his case. His numbers are actually a bit worse than they were in his 44 2025 plate appearances. I would say swapping out Hinds for Bleday was a pretty good move.
“I would say swapping out Hinds for Bleday was a pretty good move.”
There’s no doubt about it. Hinds looked totally intimidated in last few PA recently and appeared to me to be practically begging to be sent down. As long as he stays like that he doesn’t belong in the major leagues. If that ever changes I’d be delighted. He needs a Sal Stewart mentality who no matter what refuses to be intimidated even in his down times.
No matter what Hinds does or doesn’t do Bleday has looked good and has earned a spot on the team.
The reds basically have 2 starting pitchers for the foreseeable future. The nl central is very strong this year. Reds may be out of it by the all star break.
Let Marte, Hinds, Arroyo play the entire second half of the year on a daily basis
I still haven’t given up Hinds. I do think he is a guy that is going to need some time up here before he ” figures things out”
I was in on the let’s give Hinds a chance, I mean he’s killing AAA, but he looks lost vs MLB pitchers. I loved Aquino even more, but some guys just don’t adjust to the next level.
Yep, exactly right. Opposing pitchers quit throwing Hinds strikes, and he couldn’t stop swinging.
I thought a couple weeks ago if Hayes was hitting .150 or lower in Mid may they’d need to think about making a big change there with him. Well, he’s hitting .150 going into May 15th…so in my personal estimation, I’m a little torn! Just from a statistics standpoint it’d be interesting to see where he’s at hitting wise June 15th if he start 20 more games or so. It seems they’re playing him less and less though.
Right Field feels like it’s there for the taking for any current Red on the roster, or in Triple A if they got hot for a few weeks.
Ever annoying Lousy Cubs will snap their 4 game losing skid tonight. I guess that means they start another 10 game streak on the positive side? Happened last time. Just don’t see good things for our side this year; with the so called offense being completely incapable, coupled with an unreliable pitching staff, both starting and relief, and just bad play from the defense and at KEY moments during KEY times from the pen. Don’t forget about completely brainless behavior by mindless fans. The 0 and 7 roadie was unforgivable, this 3 and 3 home stand against definite inferior clubs in UNACCEPTABLE. Time for changes, starting with Tired Ol Tito and his twin brother Nowhere Man Nick.
Benson at the top of the order not working. At this point, either Benson or Hayes should be hitting 9th. I still think MM leading off is the best option. If not, Steer. I like a lineup of MM, Bleday, Elly, Sal, Lowe, Steer, Friedl, Stephenson or Trevino, Benson or Hayes. Or have Steer leading off with MM hitting 6th. At this point, bringing up Arroyo to be the starter at 3B and sending Dunn back to Louisville seems like a good move. He can slot in the 9th spot initially. If he continues to hit, let him leadoff. Go with a bench of Trevino, Hayes, Benson and Myers. A lineup of Arroyo, Bleday, Elly, Sal, Lowe, Steer, MM, Stephenson, Friedl until Geno is ready to return to the lineup.
“I still think MM leading off is the best option.” He’s bouncing back a bit but nowhere needed to return to the top of the order imo. Bring up that Arroyo kid.
1 Bleday LF, 2 Stewart 1B, 3 EDLC SS
4 Steer LF, 5 Lowe DH, 6 ?
7 ?, 8 ?, 9 ?
Maybe EDLC can protect Stewart for a bit, that might help him see some pitches. I don’t care as much about who’s at the end of the lineup, because most options are similar, I am worried about getting the best/hottest bats at the top of the lineup.
Looks like Bleday is the real deal, could anchor the OF for the foreseeable future. If H-Rod makes the bigs then they’ll have the corners covered with the CF open for a trade candidate with Myers as 4th OF. Sadly none of the others players have shown they belong, there’s still some hope for Hinds and Marte to make it, but as for Friedl, Benson and Dunn the time is up.
Here is one of the many laughable articles that one finds throughout the season. Analytics and their interpreters are ruining the game. Hint – wins really are what matters at the end of the day. Everything else is just noise.
https://www.redreporter.com/cincinnati-reds-analysis/50904/statcast-darlings-sal-stewart-reds-elly-de-la-cruz?utm_source=bleacherreport&utm_medium=referral
Absolutely, wins matter most. However, you seem to be suggesting that thinking about how those wins are most likely to come about in a systematic, data-driven way is bad for the game.
The issue isn’t analyzing the data. The mistake is assuming that if one changes a batter’s LA etc., that better results will automatically follow. That is a fallacy. For example, no change to Hayes’ LA will ever turn him into Schwarber. In all likelihood, it won’t even make him a better hitter.
No one on planet Earth who has any idea of how baseball works will ever suggest changing the launch angle for Ke’Bryan Hayes will turn him into Schwarber. You are making an enormous strawman argument here.
The Reds are tied for the worst Batting Average on Balls In Play at .267. The entire team (not just Hayes) have been dramatically unlucky.
Good process leads to success. Ignore Luddite mentality.
Luddite mentality? Now that’s funny. Particularly so given most fans adherence to group think and wishful thinking.
Do we control Bleday thru a couple of arbitration years?
Yes