Key Matchups Set Stage for NL Cy Young and MVP Contenders
WHO:
MLB.com - Chase Burns of Cincinnati is 7-1 with a 2.14 ERA in 13 starts.
MLB.com - JJ Bleday of Cincinnati was named the National League's Player of the Month for May.
MLB.com - Elly De La Cruz of Cincinnati is batting .280 with an .855 OPS, 12 home runs, 37 RBIs, and 10 steals in 58 games.
MLB.com - Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers, Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies, Chase Burns of Cincinnati, Chris Sale of Atlanta, Paul Skenes of Pittsburgh, Yoshinobu Yamamoto of Los Angeles, Shohei Ohtani of Los Angeles, Kyle Harrison of the Brewers, Derek Hill of the White Sox, Dylan Campbell and José Colmenares (prospects traded by the Phillies), Adolis García of the Phillies, Don Mattingly (Phillies interim manager), Dave Dombrowski (Phillies president of baseball operations).
WHAT:
MLB.com - The Reds' bullpen has a 5.13 ERA, the second-worst in MLB.
MLB.com - Emilio Pagán, the Reds' closer, has a 6.43 ERA and three blown saves in nine opportunities this season.
MLB.com - Graham Ashcraft is on the 60-day IL due to a UCL sprain.
MLB.com - Misiorowski leads the NL among qualified starters in ERA (1.50), strikeouts (116), WHIP (0.81), and opponents’ batting average (.151) while allowing just 22 walks in 78 innings.
MLB.com - Misiorowski's fastball has been recorded as the fastest pitch (103.7 mph) by a starter in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).
MLB.com - Sánchez broke the Phillies’ 115-year-old scoreless-innings streak record, going 50 2/3 innings without allowing a run, the third-longest in MLB history.
MLB.com - Sánchez leads NL qualified pitchers in innings (93 1/3) and complete games (one), and ranks second in wins (eight), ERA (1.54), and strikeouts (113).
MLB.com - The Phillies traded for Derek Hill, sending outfield prospect Dylan Campbell and infield prospect José Colmenares to the White Sox.
MLB.com - Hill batted .213 with four home runs, eight RBIs, and a .659 OPS in 50 games this season with Chicago.
WHERE:
MLB.com - The upcoming series between the Brewers and Phillies will take place in Milwaukee.
MLB.com - The trade involving Derek Hill occurred in Philadelphia.
WHEN:
MLB.com - Phase 1 of the All-Star Game balloting runs until noon ET on June 25, with Phase 2 voting from June 29 to July 2.
MLB.com - Misiorowski's next start is on the one-year anniversary of his MLB debut.
MLB.com - Sánchez is scheduled to pitch on Sunday against the Brewers.
MLB.com - The trade for Derek Hill occurred less than 24 hours after Adolis García's injury.
WHY:
MLB.com - The Reds' bullpen struggles are attributed to injuries, underperformance, and inconsistency.
MLB.com - The Phillies' trade for Hill was motivated by their lack of outfield depth following García's injury.
HOW:
MLB.com - The Reds have used 20 different pitchers out of the bullpen this year.
MLB.com - Misiorowski's success is attributed to his fastball, which ranks among the best pitches in baseball, and his ability to maintain velocity deep into games.
(UPDATED June 12, 2026 19:39 UTC)
Chase Burns of Cincinnati is having a standout season, boasting a record of seven wins and one loss with a 2.14 ERA over 13 starts, while teammate JJ Bleday has earned the title of National League Player of the Month for May. Despite these individual successes, the Reds' bullpen is facing challenges with a 5.13 ERA, the second-worst in the league, compounded by injuries and underperformance, including Emilio Pagán’s 6.43 ERA and three blown saves. Fans can participate in Phase 1 of the All-Star Game balloting until noon ET on June 25, followed by Phase 2 voting from June 29 to July 2.
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(UPDATED June 12, 2026 16:03 UTC)
Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers is having an outstanding season, leading the National League among qualified starters with an impressive ERA of 1.50, 116 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 0.81, while also recording the fastest pitch by a starter in the pitch-tracking era at 103.7 mph. Meanwhile, Cristopher Sánchez of the Phillies has made history by breaking the team's 115-year-old scoreless-innings streak, going 50 and two-thirds innings without allowing a run, and he is set to pitch against the Brewers on Sunday. In a recent trade, the Phillies acquired outfielder Derek Hill from the White Sox, sending prospects Dylan Campbell and José Colmenares in return, a move prompted by the team's need for outfield depth following Adolis García's injury.