Burnes Returns as D-backs Push for Wild Card | MLB News

0:00On September 5th, Corbin Burns, the big name picture for the Diamondbacks, is finally set to make his return to the mound next Tuesday. He's been sidelined since last June, first with Tommy John's surgery, and then a terrorist major strain, so this is a pretty big deal for the team. They might even do a bullpen game on Monday to ease him back in for a limited appearance on Tuesday. Burns signed a massive six-year, $210 million deal with Arizona before the 2025 season. He showed flashes of that value early on, putting up a 2.66 earned run average and 64 innings. He was keeping the ball on the ground and striking guys out, which is his trademark, though his walks were a little up. The recovery from Tommy John's surgery typically takes over a year, and Burns was hoping to be backed by the All-Star break. Unfortunately, that muscle strain pushed his return back to September. He only had one rehab start in AAA, tossing two innings. Now, it looks like they're skipping any more rehab games and bringing him straight back.

1:03He'll definitely be on a pitch count next week, but the plan is for him to get about four starts in before the regular season wraps up. If he can build up his arm strength to pitch four or five innings by the end of that stretch, he could be a real asset for the playoffs. The Diamondbacks are in a tight race for a wildcard spot, holding a half-game lead. Their starting rotation hasn't been the strongest this year, ranking in the bottom 10 by wins above replacement. Burns's return should definitely boost their chances, even if he's not at full strength immediately. Baseball news, powered by AI. This is MLB News Today.