Reds Aim for Series Sweep Against Rangers with Chase Burns on the Mound

The Cincinnati Reds showcased their offensive prowess in the series opener against the Texas Rangers, securing a 5-3 victory bolstered by two-run home runs from Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson. Saturday brought another win for Cincinnati, this time a 2-0 shutout, thanks to the stellar performance of starting pitcher Rhett Lowder, who was supported by a timely collection of singles.

As the Reds look to complete the sweep on Sunday, all eyes will be on Chase Burns, who has the opportunity to leave his mark on Cincinnati’s first road series of the season. In his initial start of the year, Burns was nothing short of electric, striking out seven batters over five innings while allowing just one hit in a 2-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His performance has shown no signs of the struggles he faced in the bullpen last season or the unusual ‘de-load’ period he went through during spring training.

Opposing Burns will be Texas Rangers starter Jack Leiter, another former #2 overall pick. At just 25 years old, Leiter has carved out a role as a steady mid-rotation contributor for the Rangers. His first start of the season was impressive, showcasing the potential that has long been recognized. The Reds will need to be on their game today as they face the right-hander, who has the capability to be an ace.

This matchup is particularly intriguing given the previous day’s duel between Rhett Lowder and Kumar Rocker. Both Lowder and Burns hail from Wake Forest’s renowned pitching development program, while Rocker and Leiter emerged from Vanderbilt, where current Reds pitching coordinator Derek Johnson played a key role in their development. All four pitchers are former Top 10 overall picks, highlighting the elite talent that has been on display throughout this series.

First pitch for Sunday’s matinee is scheduled for 2:35 PM ET, as the Reds prepare to head to Miami next to continue their first road trip of the 2026 season. Notably, Nate Lowe finds himself back on the bench, with Ke’Bryan Hayes starting at third base once again. Here’s how the Reds will line up for this matchup:

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.