Orioles ace Corbin Burnes ready for October opener against Royals

BALTIMORE — The Orioles had October in mind when they traded for right-hander Corbin Burnes in February.

The former Cy Young Award winner played his part, remaining the steady force in an injury-riddled rotation to help Baltimore secure its second straight playoff berth.

After a strong first regular season with the Orioles, Burnes will take the mound Tuesday when Baltimore hosts the Kansas City Royals to begin a best-of-three American League wild-card series.

“It’s an honor,” Burnes said. “To get the ball back on opening day (and) the first game of the playoffs, not many guys can do that in their career. I’ve been fortunate enough to do it several times, and to do it in my first year here in Baltimore, it’s special. It’s a great group of guys, and they accepted me from day one.

Tuesday’s start has been eight months in the making for Burnes, who became the Orioles’ ace as soon as Baltimore traded two prospects to the Milwaukee Brewers for him shortly before spring training.

The 29-year-old went 15-9 with a team-best 2.92 ERA while making 32 starts, eight more than any other Orioles pitcher. He will be making his third playoff start and ninth playoff appearance in his seven-year career.

Burnes is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in the postseason, including last year’s National League wild-card round with Milwaukee against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He started Game 1 and allowed four runs on five hits – including three home runs – in four innings in the Brewers’ 6-3 loss to the eventual NL champions.

“Postseason baseball is a different beast,” Burnes said. “…(It) isn’t necessarily about going out there and trying to score the most points. It’s about controlling momentum.”

Burnes made two starts against Kansas City in April, allowing a total of five runs in 11 1/3 innings while walking one and striking out seven.

His counterpart on Tuesday, Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (11-9, 3.14 ERA), will make his postseason debut.

The 26-year-old established himself as a rugged young man in his first full season with Kansas City, a year after the Royals tied a franchise record with 106 losses.

Ragans pitched to a 1.08 ERA in his four September starts and finished with the fifth-most strikeouts in the majors (223). He blanked the Orioles on one hit in 6 1/3 innings on April 3 before being shelled for seven runs in 1 2/3 frames on April 20.

“I don’t forget the second (start),” Ragans said. “It just wasn’t a good day that day. … I don’t think it’s going to affect how I prepare. Everybody’s good in the playoffs, so prepare like I did all the season.”

Kansas City is making its first postseason appearance since winning the franchise’s second World Series in 2015. The Royals have been the biggest team in baseball this year, posting a 30-win improvement from their 2023 record futile.

“You want to create something new,” shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. said. “In the past, everyone in Kansas City talked about (the 2015 team) and so we want to create our own legacy.”

Witt hit a major league record .332 in the regular season to secure his first AL batting title. He also hit 32 home runs and stole 31 bases to become the first ever shortstop with multiple 30-30 seasons.

The 24-year-old will get his first taste of playoff baseball after finishing last place in his first two seasons with Kansas City.

“It’s an incredible opportunity,” Witt said. “…Some guys never make the playoffs…so you definitely have to make the most of it, but also enjoy every day.”

–Tanner Malinowski, Field Media