Pirates option Carmen Mlodzinski, recall Mike Burrows in starting rotation shuffle

Kevin Gorman TribLive Wed, May 21, 2025 • 10:38 AM

Pittsburgh Pirates’ Mike Burrows pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, in New York.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are shuffling their starting rotation, optioning right-hander reliever-turned-starter Carmen Mlodzinski to Triple-A Indianapolis and recalling Mike Burrows.

Burrows is expected to start Thursday against the Milwaukee Brewers, in what would be Mlodzinski’s regular turn in the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

Burrows, a 6-foot, 200-pound right-hander, is 2-1 with a 2.51 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 41 strikeouts against 11 walks in 32 1/3 innings over eight appearances (seven starts) for Indianapolis this season.

The 25-year-old Burrows made his major league debut in a 9-4 win at the New York Yankees last Sept. 28, allowing one earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out two in 3 1/3 innings.

Mlodzinski is 1-4 with a 5.67 ERA, 1.61 WHIP and 28 strikeouts against 12 walks in 39 2/3 innings over nine starts for the Pirates this season. He allowed four runs on seven hits and one walk with two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings in his last start, a 5-2 loss at the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.