The starting pitchers for the 2025 Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee have been announced for both the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds.
Both pitchers, Spencer Strider and Chase Burns, have roots in the Volunteer State, a fitting detail for Major League Baseball’s first-ever game in Tennessee.
Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
Strider will start for the Braves on Saturday, Aug. 2. Through 14 starts this season, he has a 3.71 ERA with 92 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings.
The right-hander grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, and attended Christian Academy of Knoxville, where he played high school baseball. Bristol, the site of the Speedway Classic, is about a two-hour drive from his hometown.
After a successful college career with the Clemson Tigers, Strider was selected by Atlanta in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB draft. He debuted for the Braves on Oct. 1, 2021, against the New York Mets.
Chase Burns, Cincinnati Reds
Burns will get the start for the Reds in the Speedway Classic. He made his Reds debut this season on June 24 against the New York Yankees, recording eight strikeouts in five innings.
He has made six starts this season, posting a 6.26 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings.
Like Strider, Burns has Tennessee roots. He grew up in Gallatin, just outside Nashville, and played a portion of his college career with the Tennessee Volunteers, helping them reach the 2023 College World Series.
For his final college season, Burns transferred to Wake Forest, where he broke the school record for strikeouts in a season (191) and was named ACC Pitcher of the Year. The Reds selected him with the second overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft.
Where to Watch the 2025 Speedway Classic
The Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway is scheduled for Aug. 2. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. EDT.
The game will air on Fox Sports.
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo: Work continues on the baseball field inside the racetrack at Bristol Motor Speedway, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Bristol, Tenn., for MLB Speedway Classic baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves on Aug.2 (Earl Neikirk/Bristol Motor Speedway via AP)
