Brewers place Corbin Burnes on injured list

One of baseball’s best starters is going on the IL, but he may not be gone for long.

The Brewers have placed early NL Cy Young candidate Corbin Burnes on the injured list, though they didn’t immediately reveal a reason or specify that he was being placed on the 10-day or 60-day IL, meaning he’s likely been placed on the COVID-19 injured list. That could mean that he’s experiencing vaccine side effects, he’s tested positive for the virus or that he’s in contact tracing after being exposed to another individual who tested positive, but the Brewers have yet to elaborate on the reason for the move.

Right-hander Zack Godley, who was called up to make his Brewers debut on Wednesday, also was placed on the IL after suffering a finger contusion on a bunt attempt.

Burnes, 26, had his worst start of the season on Monday, taking the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) over five innings against the Marlins. But his cumulative season numbers are still stellar — he has a 1.53 ERA with a 0.55 WHIP, 49 strikeouts, and zero walks in 29.1 innings.

Burnes’ spot in the rotation doesn’t come up again until Sunday, so if it’s just a vaccine side effects issue, it’s a clever bit of roster management by the Brewers to get another fresh arm onto the active roster. Obviously, if he tested positive for COVID-19 or is in contact tracing protocol, he could be out for a longer period and it’d be an unfortunate development for the Brewers.