Chase Burns has reached some elite company in his first six starts in the majors. However, the Reds rookie right-hander is still seeking his first big-league win.

The Reds are a season-best six games over .500, just one game behind the Padres for the third spot in the NL wild-card race.

Jul 19, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third base Eugenio Suarez (28) reacts after hitting a solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images / Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Shohei Ohtani extended his hitting streak to nine games with a two-run double in the fifth inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-2.

All that's between the Reds and the 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline on Thursday are three key games against the superstar-laden Dodgers. But as they've often stressed as a club seeking a playoff berth, there was no looking ahead.

The Reds have been searching for long-term consistency since the Big Red Machine days and the early 2010s. This team has the talent to set the franchise up for sustained success, but that's also going to require beating the best teams, like the Dodgers.

During batting practices over the years, Noelvi Marte would often go out to the outfield and shag fly balls. He thought that he did a pretty good job at that, so he always believed that he could play the outfield if he was asked.