Diamondbacks' Playoff Aspirations Diminished by Corbin Burnes' Injury Setback

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks, currently positioned for a playoff spot in the National League, faced a significant setback in their postseason ambitions with the news that ace pitcher Corbin Burnes has been shut down in his recovery from Tommy John surgery. This development likely sidelines him until at least September.

Burnes, who inked a six-year, $210 million deal last year—making it the largest in the franchise's history—was anticipated to make a return around the All-Star break, providing a critical boost for the Diamondbacks in the latter half of the season. However, after throwing approximately 18 pitches in a recent session against hitters, he was diagnosed with a teres major strain, necessitating a restart of his throwing regimen, potentially pushing his return to July.

“It’s a blow, and it’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,” said Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo. “It’s what we do in this game, and we’ve got very qualified players in that clubhouse that are going to get some opportunities. We’ve got five really good starting pitchers right now and they’re doing a really good job. I want that to continue.”

After an MRI on Monday revealed no additional damage, the team remains uncertain about the cause of Burnes' setback. “There’s no real defined answer,” Lovullo noted. “He felt it after his last outing. He felt like the next day something was just a little tight. He threw a little bit, and it just amplified a little bit. … We’ll just remain hopeful. We want him to get healthy once he gets there.”

Burnes, who declined a four-year, $180 million contract to return to the Baltimore Orioles, was previously expected to opt out of his current deal after two seasons. Despite his past performance with an average of 31 starts and 189 innings over his last four seasons, he has only made 11 starts and pitched 64.1 innings since joining the Diamondbacks. The team will owe him $140 million over the next four years, with $11 million deferred annually, and his no-trade provision will be adjusted to a partial clause, permitting him to decline trades to 14 teams.