Diamondbacks’ Corbin Burnes Expected To Start Against Dodgers

After taking two of three from the Miami Marlins, the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in the final leg of their road trip.

The four-game series will feature Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki both pitching on one fewer day of rest for the first time this season as they start Thursday and Friday, respectively.

Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes is also expected to start against the Dodgers on Saturday after skipping his last turn in the Diamondbacks rotation because of right shoulder inflammation, via Jesse Borek of MLB.com:

For now, Burnes — who continued his throwing program Monday and reportedly feels good — remains the unofficial probable for Saturday in front of what will likely be a lively crowd for a divisional showdown with the Dodgers.

With Burnes available, the Diamondbacks have seemingly lined up their top starters for the series against the Dodgers. Brandon Pfaadt is on the mound in the series opener, and Eduardo Rodriguez (Friday) and Zac Gallen (Sunday) are also scheduled to pitch.

Burnes last pitched on April 30, when he allowed one run in six innings of work against the New York Mets. The right-hander received a cortisone injection to alleviate the soreness in his right shoulder, which represented a first in his eight-year career.

Burnes signed a six-year, $210 million contract with the Diamondbacks during the offseason and made six starts prior to being skipped over.

Burnes owns a 1-1 record with a 3.58 ERA, 5.11 FIP and 1.38 WHIP in 32.2 innings pitched this season. Saturday will mark his first start against the Dodgers since signing with the Diamondbacks.

The 30-year-old is 2-3 with a 5.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 9.6 strikeouts per nine in eight career appearances (six starts) against L.A.

Dodgers’ interest in Corbin Burnes

The Dodgers reportedly were among the teams interested in Burnes during the offseason, but they ultimately addressed their rotation by signing Blake Snell and Sasaki.