Brewers: What’s the latest on Corbin Burnes?

Corbin Burnes took the mound again on Monday night. Did he help his chances of making the Milwaukee Brewers starting rotation?

There were three possible scenarios that Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes was facing before Spring Training started. He could have been sent back to the Minors to work out any lingering effects of his 2019 season. He could have made the roster as a reliever, a role that he succeeded in during the 2018 season. There was also a chance that he worked his way back into the Milwaukee Brewers rotation.

After his effort on Monday night, Burnes could find himself in a real battle for the final spot in the rotation.

How did Burnes do on Monday night?

Burnes tossed four innings against the Seattle Mariners, and allowed only one run. Burnes struck out six, walked one, and was tagged for three hits. The one run that the Mariners managed to get came off a solo homer by outfielder Kyle Lewis.

The other six outs Burnes recorded all came via ground balls including one double play.

His ERA for the Spring sits at 0.90.

What are the odds that Burnes makes the starting rotation?

Burnes is still behind Eric Lauer and Freddy Peralta, but the gap between the trio has narrowed. A rough outing or two by Lauer and Peralta, and Burnes starts the season in the rotation.

If Burnes was viewed as a long shot for the starting rotation, he isn’t any more. He should make the active roster as a reliever at a minimum, but there is a non-zero chance that the team sends him back to Triple-A to continue to stay stretched out as a starting pitcher.

Burnes is essentially a lock to make the active roster. It really just depends on whether he wins a starting role, or starts the year in the bullpen.

It’s fantastic to see that Burnes has put his 2019 season in his rear view mirror. He’ll always have an ugly, 8.00-plus ERA on the back of his baseball card, but he doesn’t have to let it define who he is as a pitcher. The Brewers are better off with Burnes on the active roster and in the rotation, and he’s very close to claiming the final starting role for 2020.