The Arizona Diamondbacks are awaiting word on the health of ace pitcher Corbin Burnes after he was removed in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game with an elbow issue.
Burnes, who signed a six-year, $210 million free agent contract with the Diamondbacks this offseason, has been a model of consistency since becoming a full-time starter in the majors – making at least 28 starts in each of the past four seasons.
The 2021 National League Cy Young winner had pitched shutout ball through the first four innings on Sunday before giving up a line drive single to CJ Abrams of the Washington Nationals with two outs in the fifth.
After the hit, he immediately motioned to the dugout and called for an athletic trainer.
After the game, Burnes said his elbow ‘started to get tight on me’ as he noticed a drop in velocity and a lack of control with his pitches.
He said he had never felt anything like it before, and he tried to ‘shut things down before it got too bad.’
Burnes is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday to determine the severity of the injury.