Arizona right-hander Corbin Burnes is scheduled to make his return from Tommy John surgery after 15 months of recovery and rehabilitation when the visiting Diamondbacks take on the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night.
“I’m ready,” said Burnes, a four-time All-Star and the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner while with the Milwaukee Brewers. “We’ll see what happens.”
The Diamondbacks (77-68) welcome back Burnes — who signed a six-year, $210 million contract ahead of his first season with Arizona in 2025 — as they continue their playoff push.
Burnes made 11 starts last year before injuring his elbow on June 1, 2025, and is returning to an Arizona club that has a half-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the race for the National League’s third and final wild-card spot.
Burnes expected a return around the All-Star break this year, but the 31-year-old suffered a setback with a strain of his right teres major (shoulder) muscle in early June.
“When we got the news that it was gonna be a little longer, I think it was initially tough, and then you start getting back into it, and you kind of start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel,” Burnes said. “Which is good, but it’s been tough.”
The Royals (64-81) will counter with right-hander Michael Wacha (9-8, 3.36 ERA), who has pitched into the sixth inning in nine straight starts. A two-time All-Star including this season, Wacha earned the victory in his most recent outing, allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in a 7-3 home win over the Miami Marlins on Thursday.
In 10 career starts against the Diamondbacks, Wacha is 2-2 with a 5.06 ERA. He’s issued 23 walks with 42 strikeouts over 48 innings.
Arizona claimed a 5-4 win in 10 innings vs. Kansas City in the opener of the three-game series on Monday. The Diamondbacks tallied five runs in the 10th, only for the Royals to answer with a four-run rally before coming up short in the bottom of the frame.
Kansas City had the winning run at the plate, but Nick Loftin struck out looking to end the drama.
“The first nine innings were one game and the 10th was another game,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said.
The pitchers’ duel and defensive struggle that emerged through the first nine innings were in the comfort zone for Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo.
“We love low-scoring games,” he said. “We prepare for them and know how to execute and win them.”
Kansas City pitchers issued only three walks on Monday, and Quatraro said being active in the strike zone is part of his club’s strategy.
“You’ve got to keep challenging (Arizona hitters),” Quatraro said. “If you back away and start picking; that team doesn’t chase much, so you’ve got to stay in the zone.”
Burnes has pitched well against the Royals in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.15 ERA in five regular-season starts. He has fanned 32 and walked just six in 29 1/3 innings.
While Burnes’ fastball reached 93 mph in a rehab start at Triple-A Reno on Thursday, he said he’s more concerned with getting results.
“I’ve got to make sure I’m at a point where I can get outs in the big leagues,” Burnes said. “Not necessarily put up numbers on the radar.”
–Field Level Media
