The last time Chase Burns faced the New York Yankees, he made them look helpless. That was his MLB debut in 2025, and the kid came out dealing like he’d been in the league for a decade. Yankees manager Aaron Boone still remembers it clearly.
“He was mowing through our lineup,” Boone said this week, per Charlie Goldsmith of FOX19. “His stuff definitely gets your attention.”
Boone didn’t mince words. He called Burns an All-Star caliber pitcher and said he’s looking like a young ace. At 23 years old, Burns is backing that up with a 2026 season that has the Reds believing they’ve found their long-term anchor on the mound. He’s been that good.
A Different Challenge This Time
Sunday’s series finale at Yankee Stadium is the rematch nobody was necessarily circling until now. The Yankees are the best team in the American League at 46-29, and they’ve been banged up. Aaron Judge is still out with a ribcage injury. The lineup isn’t at full strength. But they’re slowly pulling away from the Rays in the AL East, and Sunday is a chance to prove they can handle elite pitching without their captain.
That’s easier said than done when Burns is on the hill. He’s not just throwing hard anymore. His command has sharpened. His secondary stuff is wiping out lefties and righties alike. The Yankees got a preview of what that looks like last year, and it wasn’t pretty for them.
New York has split its last four games heading into Sunday. They’ve held things together through injuries, but facing a pitcher with Burns’ stuff is a different kind of test. Boone knows it. The players know it. They’ve already seen what happens when they underestimate him.
One Game, Real Implications
The Reds aren’t going anywhere either. They’re hanging around the NL Central race, and a series win in the Bronx would be a statement. For the Yankees, it’s about maintaining distance in the division and showing they can beat top-tier arms even without their best hitter. Sunday’s first pitch is at 1:35 PM ET. The stands will be full. And everybody in that building will be watching to see if Chase Burns can do it again.
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