The Reds' May to Forget: A Month of Woe and Dominant Performances
May has been a wild ride for the Cincinnati Reds. Ahead of their final three games this month, they sit at 9-15 with the possibility of finishing 12-15 if they can sweep the Atlanta Braves. Yeah, it's been a real treat. But amidst all the losing, there have been some bright spots.
One of those bright spots is Elly De La Cruz, who has been playing consistently well this month. And then there are the dominant performances from Chase Burns and Andrew Abbott. Abbott has turned his season around in a big way, dominating May with ease. Burns, on the other hand, has been even better, but unfortunately, he won't be taking home the National League Pitcher of the Month award.
That honor belongs to Christopher Sanchez of the Philadelphia Phillies, who has put together a historically dominant month. Sanchez has made five starts and surrendered zero earned runs, covering 39 innings while allowing just 25 hits and three walks. He's also struck out an impressive 45 batters, making him one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball history.
All five of Sanchez's starts have been at least seven innings long, with one being a complete game shutout. It's not hard to see why he's getting all the attention, but it's worth noting that Burns has been pretty incredible too.
Burns made five starts and covered 30 1/3 innings in May, giving up just 16 hits and eight walks while surrendering four earned runs. His ERA for the month comes out to a paltry 1.19. He's been credited with the win in each of his last four starts, which is no small feat considering the Reds' struggles this month.
When Burns is on the mound, the Reds are a different team. They've only won nine games this month, but they've managed to snag four wins from their ace. His season ERA has dropped to an impressive 1.96 after starting the month at 2.20. If he can keep it up, the Reds might just have a potential Cy Young candidate on their hands.
It's not all bad news for the Reds, though. They've still got some time to turn things around and make a push for the playoffs. And who knows? Maybe Burns will be the spark that sets them off on the right track. After all, he's been credited with the win in each of his last four starts.
In the meantime, fans can take comfort in knowing that they've got a talented young pitcher like Burns to look forward to. And hey, who knows? Maybe next month will be kinder to the Reds. They might even finish above .500 for once. A guy can dream, right?
Written by: Swing Smilemore | The Citizen Edition
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