Why ace Corbin Burnes holds key to Orioles' postseason hopes

The Baltimore Orioles are sputtering in the second half, but a bright spot has emerged: right-hander Corbin Burnes. Since arriving from Milwaukee in a high-profile trade in February, Burnes has proved he’s not just a rental but Baltimore’s ace. 

With a season ERA of 2.95 and a blistering 1.08 ERA over his past four starts (25 innings, three earned runs), Burnes is setting himself up for postseason glory and a lucrative offseason payday.

Entering play Tuesday, the Orioles are 86-70 and hold second place in the AL East and the top wild-card spot. Despite this, they’ve limped to a 28-32 mark in the second half, struggling to find the form that carried them through the early season. 

Even with MVP candidate Gunnar Henderson (8.8 bWAR) and Anthony Santander chasing history as a switch-hitter (43 home runs), the offense hasn’t been enough to overcome shaky pitching, especially from the bullpen.

Baltimore’s relief corps is a sore spot, ranking 19th in the majors with a 4.12 ERA and converting just 68% of save opportunities. Craig Kimbrel, who was recently designated for assignment, didn’t help matters, but it’s clear the O's pitching woes run deeper. 

That’s where Burnes comes in.

Burnes has become Baltimore’s most important player, carrying the weight of the rotation and giving the Orioles hope for a deeper playoff run. The right-hander is ninth in the majors in ERA and fifth in the AL, and over the past 14 days, he’s held batters to a microscopic .111 average. 

Burnes' fastball, which is in the 91st percentile in velocity, according to Baseball Savant, and his lethal mix of offspeed pitches have solidified him as one of the game’s premier arms,