Burnes will start Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series for the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
After he turned in a 2.92 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 32 starts, the decision to send Burnes to the mound for Game 1 is a no-brainer. Baltimore still doesn't know who it will be facing to begin its playoff run, but the 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner is a safe bet to put on a strong performance in his first postseason appearance as an Oriole no matter who his opponent is.
Burnes (15-9) allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out nine over five innings, taking the loss versus the Yankees on Thursday.
The lone run he gave up was on a Giancarlo Stanton solo home run in the second inning. Burnes was lifted at 69 pitches (46 strikes), likely to keep him fresh for the Orioles' wild-card round matchup, and the Orioles' bullpen was unable to keep this game close. Burnes concludes the regular season on a high note, having allowed just five runs (four earned) while adding a 31:8 K:BB over 30 innings across five starts in September. He posted a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 181:48 K:BB over 194.1 innings across 32 regular-season starts.
Burnes (15-8) yielded three hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings Friday, striking out eight and earning a win over Detroit.
Burnes allowed only two runners to reach scoring position in his dominant outing. He fired 60 of 91 pitches for strikes, but he generated only 11 whiffs. Burnes has been a nightmare for the Tigers recently; in back-to-back starts against them, he's tossed 14 scoreless frames with 15 punchouts while earning a win in both. He's delivered a 1.08 ERA over 25 innings this month, dropping his season ERA to 2.95 across 31 starts. Burnes' final start of the regular season is expected to be a road matchup against the Yankees.
Burnes (14-8) got the win Saturday against the Tigers. He allowed two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.
Burnes was nearly unhittable Saturday as he got through seven innings with ease, at one point retiring 12 straight hitters. He has been a model of durability and consistency for the Orioles this season, as he's made 30 starts and has thrown the fifth most innings in MLB with 182.1. The 29-year-old will carry a 3.06 ERA into his next start, which is scheduled against the Tigers once again.
Orioles' Corbin Burnes: Tough-luck loser in quality start
Rotowire
Burnes (13-8) took the loss Sunday against the Rays, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out three in six innings.
Burnes scattered five singles throughout the first five frames, holding the Rays scoreless until Jonny DeLuca launched a two-run home run in the sixth, which turned out to be the only runs scored in the low-scoring affair. It wasn't Burnes' most dominant outing, but he managed to notch his 20th quality start of the season and his first since Aug. 10. On the season, the 29-year-old sports a 3.18 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 157:43 K:BB in 175 innings (29 starts). He will look to get back in the win column his next time out, scheduled for next weekend in Detroit.
