Reds Send Burns to Bounce Back After Friday Stumble in D.C.

The Reds dropped Friday's opener 5-3, but they're not sweating it. Saturday brings Chase Burns to the bump, and that changes everything. Burns is dealing this year—2.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, striking out better than 10 per nine—while the Nationals counter with Andrew Alvarez, whose 3.94 ERA and 1.45 WHIP scream "exploitable." That's a 1.59 ERA gap, folks, and in a sport of inches, that's a canyon.

Cincinnati has been the hotter club by a mile, going 10-5 in their last 15 while Washington limps in at 2-8 over their last 10. The Nats are also bleeding runs at home lately, allowing nearly five per game in recent contests. Sure, they won yesterday and have home field on their side, but one win doesn't erase a month of mediocrity.

DarkHorse likes the Reds at -148, and it's hard to argue. You're paying a premium, but when your ace has this kind of edge and the opposing lineup is scuffling, you lay the wood. Burns should dominate, the Reds' bats should bounce back after a quiet night, and Cincinnati evens this series before heading home. Fade the home team—back the better arm.