"The most polished complete starting pitcher" - Ex-Brewers All-Star pitcher ranks Corbin Burnes above Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes as the best
Former Milwaukee Brewers All-Star pitcher Dan Plesac ranked Corbin Burnes (11-4, 2.47 ERA) at No. 1 on his list of the top 5 pitchers in the MLB. Tarik Skubal (12-4, 2.57 ERA) and Paul Skenes (6-1, 1.90 ERA) were ranked second and third, respectively.
On MLB Network, Plesac justified giving the top spot to the Orioles ace, drawing a parallel with Gerrit Cole's importance for the New York Yankees last season.
"Last year, Gerrit Cole was the most important pitcher on any team in baseball, and I really think if the Orioles have any plans of going to the World Series, Corbin Burnes has to continue being Corbin Burnes, because I think there's a drop off when you go to 2, 3, 4 [in the pitching rotation]," Plesac said (4:22).
Talking about why Burnes is so important to the Orioles, Plesac added (4:44):
"You're looking at the most polished, complete starting pitcher in the game. He can go deep into games, cuts the ball, he can go deep. He is so important to the Orioles, if he pitches like an ace the rest of the way, they're going deep."
Dan Plesac's playing career spanned from 1986 to 2003, during which he pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies.
In his time with the Brewers, he was an All-Star three years on the trot, from 1987–89. He is also on the Milwaukee Brewers wall of honor for his displays on the mound at Milwaukee County Stadium.
Orioles adds SP depth at trade deadline; Corbin Burnes remains important to them
The Orioles added starting pitchers Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers to the roster before the trade deadline to add depth to the rotation ahead of a potential push for the World Series.
However, it would not be an overstatement to assume that for the Orioles to fulfill their aspirations in the playoffs, a majority of the weight will fall on Corbin Burnes' shoulders.
Burnes has led the Baltimore Orioles' pitching contingent this season, going 11-4 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, striking out 128 hitters in 138.2 innings pitched.
The 2021 Cy Young Award winner has no problem going deep into games, pitching at least six innings in his last 17 starts. He has also allowed three runs or fewer in 21 out of 22 games this season and is well on pace to reach at least 200 strikeouts for the fourth season on the bounce.