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• Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Reason for rotation slot

  3D ago • By RotoWire

  Burnes was slotted fifth in the rotation because the right-hander wanted to remain on a five-day pitching schedule, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. Eyebrows may have been raised when the Diamondbacks announced Burnes, a prized offseason addition, was going to start the fifth game of the season. That's because manager Torey Lovullo didn't decide on Zac Gallen to start Opening Day until later in camp, and Burnes wanted to maintain a five-day routine. Burnes last pitched in a Cactus League game Friday, so if the right-hander started the second game of the regular season, he would be doing so on one week's rest. Instead, Burnes will throw a simulated game on Wednesday before making his regular-season debut the following Tuesday.

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• Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Slots in for fifth game

  4D ago • By RotoWire

  Burnes is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season April 1 against the Yankees, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports. It was only a mild surprise that Zac Gallen was named the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter for Thursday's matchup with the Cubs, but the fact that Burnes won't start until the fifth game of the season is significantly more notable. The right-hander inked a six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona in November, but the organization apparently wants to give him a few extra days after the end of camp before sending him to the mound for his team debut. Burnes was dominant in his first five spring starts before being tagged for eight runs Friday versus the Brewers while having trouble with his cutter, though there's been no indication that outing is related to his positioning in the rotation.

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• Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Roughed up Friday

  5D ago • By RotoWire

  Burnes allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers. This outing came out of nowhere, as Burnes had breezed through his first five Cactus League starts before the Brewers knocked him around. He ran his pitch count to 75 in his spring finale. Burnes later told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he was having trouble commanding his cutter. The right-hander should make his next start during the team's season-opening series against the Cubs, though nothing has been set beyond Opening Day starter Zac Gallen.

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• Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Fans four in Saturday's start

  11D ago • By RotoWire

  Burnes allowed one run on four hits and struck out four over four-plus innings in Saturday's spring start against the White Sox. He struck out the side in the first en route to retiring the first six batters he faced, and Burnes pitched into the fifth inning before being removed after 64 pitches (42 strikes) following a leadoff single. He owns a 1.35 ERA with 17 strikeouts over 13.1 spring innings. Those results -- and the contract Burnes signed during the offseason -- put him in line to start Opening Day, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has yet to decide between Burnes and Zac Gallen, per Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. The manager said the league is after him to name a starter and he needs to get back to them, but he wants "to be as thorough as possible." Arizona is set to host the Cubs in their March 27 opener.

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• Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Throws two innings

  29D ago • By RotoWire

  Burnes allowed three hits and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Wednesday's spring game against Milwaukee. Burnes made his second Cactus League appearance and pushed his pitch count to 29 (20 strikes). He told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that other than a couple of breaking balls he left over the plate, he was pleased. The right-hander has struck out six over three innings thus far.

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