When the Orioles traded for Corbin Burnes this offseason, they expected to acquire an ace. They got one opening day Thursday as Burnes dominated the Los Angeles Angels with 11 strikeouts in an 11-3 victory to set an Orioles record for the most strikeouts by a pitcher in their team debut since the ballclub moved to Baltimore in 1954.
“It was fun,” Burnes said after the game. “The way I go about every start, it’s the same as if it’s Game 1 or Game 20 or 100. I’m preparing the best I can so when I get on the mound for the first pitch, everything feels normal. I’ve done it a million times. I’ve got a game plan, just go out there and step up.”
Burnes, 29, arrived in Baltimore through a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in January, netting the Orioles a three-time All-Star who won the National League Cy Young Award in 2021. The right-hander didn’t have a stellar spring training from a run prevention standpoint — he finished with a 6.75 ERA in five Grapefruit League starts — but insisted all camp that he was more focused on tinkering with his pitch mix.
His first start backed that up as a sold-out crowd of 45,029 at Camden Yards watched in awe as he pitched six innings of one-run ball that was only halted because manager Brandon Hyde decided to pull him after 82 pitches. Burnes allowed a solo home run to Angels superstar center fielder Mike Trout in the first inning, then sat down each of the next 16 hitters he faced.
“There’s a total intensity difference,” Hyde said of the difference between spring and the regular season. “The level of competition is way different. The energy. Just the adrenaline. Spring training for people like him, now we have a lot of players like that, sometimes you’re working on things. Sometimes you’re trying to get in a good rhythm. Trying to feel the ball come out of your hand correctly. Spring training is totally different. That’s why spring training numbers for me don’t mean a ton.”
Ten of Burnes’ 11 strikeouts came on swings-and-misses. He was at his best with two strikes; the Angels finished 0-for-14 in two-strike counts against him. According to Statcast, Burnes’ curveball accounted for seven punchouts, followed by his cutter (three) and slider (one). He induced eight swings on 24 curveballs. The Angels didn’t put one in play.
“It just felt like as the game progressed, his stuff got better,” catcher Adley Rutschman said. “Everything was synced up, and he looked really good.”
After picking up his final strikeout on one last looping curve, he smacked his hand into his glove and walked back to the dugout, finally allowing himself to soak in the atmosphere around him.
“I knew it was a good start,” Burnes said. “The fan base was great today. They came out, sell-out crowd, they were on it from pitch one. So, to soak that in and know that was Game 1, but we got 161 more games of this. These fans want it more than anyone. So they’re gonna be there supporting us March 28 to Oct. 1.”
He also etched himself in the Orioles’ opening day record books. Burnes tied Mike Mussina for the second-most strikeouts by a Baltimore pitcher in an opening day start behind only Dave McNally, who racked up 13 for the Orioles in 1970. It was fitting for Burnes, perhaps the most accomplished pitcher to join the Orioles’ rotation since Mussina left in 2000.
With starter Kyle Bradish, who placed fourth in American League Cy Young Award voting last season, sidelined to start the season because of a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow, the Orioles will lean heavily on Burnes to consistently give them strong starts and go deep into games. They picked one of the best candidates to do it: Since 2020, Burnes ranks fifth among all pitchers in both innings at 628 1/3 and quality starts with 63.
Baltimore might only get one year of Burnes — he’s set to hit free agency after this season — but his presence atop the Orioles’ rotation cements their status as World Series contenders. Though every team has a No. 1 starter at the front of its rotation, Burnes is among the few who could be called an ace no matter what pitching staff employs him.
One start in, he’s already living up to the billing.
“For me, I’m going to go about my business every five or six days, whatever it is, and try to help the baseball team win,” Burnes said. “That’s my goal. That’s what I’m here for, to help the team the best I can. For me, that’s not about trying to please the fan base or please the team. For me, it’s going out there knowing what my role is for the team. These guys know what their role is. If we can attack our role to the best of our abilities it’s gonna turn into a lot of success for us this year.”