Lovullo takes blame for Burnes not starting until D-Backs' 5th game

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is shouldering the blame after it was announced that Corbin Burnes will not make a start until the team's fifth game of the regular season.

"This was probably a tactical error on my part. I'll take the responsibility for that," Lovullo said Sunday, according to Jake Garcia of 12 Sports.

Lovullo cited a scheduling mishap on his part as the reason why Arizona's big-ticket offseason acquisition will make his first start with the D-Backs on April 1 in a road game against the New York Yankees.

Zac Gallen will start Opening Day when the D-Backs host the the Chicago Cubs.

"Corbin is a very routine-oriented player and I've yet to understand that until recently, and he's got a process and I respect that. I blame myself for not getting to know him and how important his routine on the day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, second-by-second (is)," Lovullo said.

Lovullo admitted trying to recalibrate things to set Burnes up for the Opening Day nod, but he opted to keep his ace on track instead.

"I was really suffering through this whole process because I wanted to do what's right by the player," the manager said.

The D-Backs signed Burnes to a six-year, $210-million contract in one of the most surprising moves of the offseason after the 2021 NL Cy Young winner posted a 2.92 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 194 1/3 innings for the Baltimore Orioles.