Corbin Burnes Returns to Action for Diamondbacks vs Dodgers

The Arizona Diamondbacks will face the Los Angeles Dodgers for a third time on Saturday, with first pitch at Chase Field set for 5:10 p.m. Right-handed ace Corbin Burnes will make his return to the mound.

The D-backs are 20-19, and were once again bit by a late-inning bullpen meltdown on Friday. They'll get two more chances to split the series with the near-unbeatable Dodgers.

Pitching Matchup

RHP Corbin Burnes (3.58 ERA) vs RHP Dustin May (4.36 ERA)

The D-backs' $210 million ace has had a bumpy ride to this point in the season, and missed his last turn in the rotation due to shoulder inflammation. He took one turn off to recover, but was never placed on the IL.

Both Burnes and the Diamondbacks maintained that it was nothing more than inflammation, and that the righty would be ready to go on Saturday if all went well. So far, it has, and Burnes is the scheduled starter for Saturday night's game.

While he hasn't looked truly dominant, it's not unlikely that this shoulder issue that has been plaguing him was affecting both his location and efficiency in his last several starts. Still, he's steadily lowered his ERA down to 3.58, gritting out three tough Quality Starts in his last four outings despite failing to truly mow down batters the way he has been known to do.

Burnes will need exceptional location, and near-perfect execution to not suffer the same fate as Eduardo Rodríguez, who was blown up by the Dodgers. As elite as Burnes is, disaster can strike the best of the best when facing this LA club.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have suffered injuries of their own in the rotation, and right-hander Dustin May will get the start for LA. He throws a mid-90s sinker and a sweeper with plenty of break as his primary pitches, but also throws in an occasional four-seam, cutter or changeup.

It's been a mixed bag for May. He's both dominated and been knocked around in the young season. He hasn't struck out many batters, but has an elite 54.2% ground ball rate, and has lived off soft contact — a matchup that could spell trouble for an inconsistent D-backs' offense.

Lineup