Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo spoke to the media on Sunday to clear up some of the mystery surrounding the team’s starting rotation order this season. That announcement—finally—gave fans some clarity on how that rotation would be structured. One question that got a lot of attention was what would happen with star pitcher Corbin Burnes.
The rotation will go as follows:
- Zac Gallen (Opening Day starter)
- Merrill Kelly
- Brandon Pfaadt
- Eduardo Rodriguez
- Corbin Burnes
Jordan Montgomery and Ryne Nelson will start the season in the bullpen. Notably, Burnes won’t pitch in the opening series against the Chicago Cubs. His first start of the season is actually slated for the team’s series against the New York Yankees in New York. That’s where he’ll make his season debut.
Why Corbin Burnes Won’t Start in the Opening Series?
Lovullo said Burnes’ routine-oriented approach to pitching was a major factor in where he fits into the rotation. And for good reason: that consistent schedule is what gets him performing at his best. Typically, that means four days of rest—and he can adjust to five if needed. But six days of rest would throw off his rhythm.
That was a miscommunication that Lovullo admits he initially underestimated. “I think I made a technical error there—and I own that,” he said. “Corbin is a guy who lives by his routine. And I’m only just starting to really get that. He has a process he follows, and I respect that. I regret not getting to know him better—understanding just how much that routine matters, minute by minute, hour by hour. He’s elite at that.”
Once it was clear that Burnes wanted to stick to his normal rest schedule, Lovullo and the coaching staff recalibrated the rotation to make that work. That means Burnes will make his first start in New York rather than against the Cubs.
Burnes’ Role in the Decision
After his final spring training game against the Brewers on Friday, Burnes said he would throw one more simulated game at Salt River Fields on Wednesday. When the math was done, it was clear he wouldn’t be ready for the opening series. Rather than forcing Burnes into an uncomfortable spot, Lovullo chose to prioritize the long-term health and effectiveness of his ace.
“Corbin is that important to me in this organization. I wanted to listen to him,” Lovullo said. “We listen to our players here and he made it clear through that partnership what was most important to him. He’s an elite pitcher with an elite routine and I don’t want to get in the way of that. So I could have said, ‘You have to do it’ but that’s just not what I believe in.”
A Learning Experience for Lovullo
While some fans may be disappointed Burnes won’t pitch in the opening series, Lovullo says it’s ultimately good for both the pitcher and the team. Burnes will make around 32 starts this year if he stays healthy, so missing the opening series won’t hurt his overall numbers.
Lovullo learned a valuable lesson about managing elite players like Burnes. Going forward, he plans to include Burnes more in the process when it comes to scheduling changes due to rainouts, off days, or other unforeseen circumstances.
“As long as he knows ahead of time—if he’s in on the ground floor of it—I’ll pull him in and talk to him,” Lovullo said. “He’ll be fine with it.”
No Long-Term Impact on the Team
The initial confusion about the rotation order will sort itself out once the season gets going. By April, what time the pitchers take the mound really won’t matter that much. Lovullo is confident that the Diamondbacks’ depth in the rotation will carry them through those early games. Some fans might be disappointed that they won’t get to see Burners pitch in that opening series. But Lovullo says that decision was made with the team’s best interests in mind—and he’s sticking to that.
That rotation order, Lovullo says, isn’t a major concern once the season really gets underway. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t a consideration at first. The Diamondbacks have a strong rotation, and Lovullo is counting on that depth to see them through the early part of the season.