Orioles' Corbin Burnes Joins Paul Skenes as Starting Pitchers for MLB All-Star Game

Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes will start the 2024 MLB All-Star Game for the American League.

Burnes will oppose Pittsburgh Pirates rookie sensation Paul Skenes, who was confirmed as the National League starter last week.

The Orioles right-hander is 9-4 in 19 appearances with a 2.43 ERA and a 3.36 FIP. His 15 quality starts are tied for second in the AL, and his ERA trails only Detroit Tigers southpaw Tarik Skubal (2.41).

Burnes isn't dominating on the mound in the same way he did during the height of his Milwaukee Brewers run. His 8.34 strikeouts per nine innings are on pace to be the second-lowest of his career, per FanGraphs, and his whiff rate (29.2 percent) is below his career average (33.1), according to Baseball Savant.

The 29-year-old's All-Star nod is a testament to his continued effectiveness, though. His walk rate (1.90 per nine innings) is down significantly from 2023 (1.90), and he's inducing ground balls at his highest clip ever (49.4 percent).

Speaking to Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com in May, Burnes chalked his relatively low strikeout numbers to how batters are attacking him in addition to his slightly different mindset.

"We are seeing a different approach against me," he said. "It was easy to see that Blue Jays lineup approach was, if they get to two strikes, they were doing all that they can to put the ball in play. I think that is kind of how the game is changing. You are seeing lineups change to more of a contact approach. Things tend to happen more when the ball is put in play.

"That is one thing you are seeing. Also, pitch-mix-wise I am a little bit different. Pitch sequencing is one of the things I've been looking into recently to try and combat this approach when they get to two strikes and just kind of throw the bat at it to put the ball in play."

The Orioles took a little bit of a risk when they acquired Burnes when he was just one year away from free agency. That put the onus on him to deliver right away and for Baltimore to contend in what might be the only season he's on the roster.

The trade has worked on both fronts with 2021 NL Cy Young winner helping the team to a first-place position in the division heading into the All-Star break.