Orioles' Burnes takes 'positive step' despite loss vs. Dodgers

Baltimore Orioles ace Corbin Burnes is feeling optimistic despite dropping his third straight start in Wednesday's loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"I think it was a step in the right direction. We threw the ball pretty well," Burnes said, per MLB.com's Jake Rill. "Cutter command was better again today and got it down in the zone, and I think we took a positive step there with some swing-and-miss and some weak contact."

Burnes allowed six runs, but only one was earned over five innings with four strikeouts. The 29-year-old struggled in August, posting a 1-3 record with a 7.36 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in five starts.

"You're not going to be really good for six months straight," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "You're going to go through ups and downs individually."

The Orioles acquired Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers for Joey Ortiz, DL Hall, and a compensatory draft pick in February. The 2021 NL Cy Young winner is expected to be the marquee pitcher on the free-agent market in the offseason.

Burnes is 12-7 with a 3.23 ERA with 150 strikeouts across 164 1/3 innings (27 starts) this season.