Pirates to active Burnett from DL to start Sunday
The Pittsburgh Pirates will activate right-hander A.J. Burnett from the disabled list to start Sunday against the Chicago Cubs, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Burnett, 36, has been on the DL for nearly a month with a calf strain. He threw a bullpen session Thursday and will reportedly not need a rehab assignment.
Burnett is 4-6 with a 3.12 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 14 starts. He is also averaging 9.96 strikeouts per nine innings.
He will start in place of right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, who will probably go back to the bullpen. He is 2-0 with a 2.70 ERA in eight starts and six relief appearances.
To make room for Burnett on the 25-man roster, the Pirates may send highly-touted prospect Gerrit Cole back to the minor leagues even though he is 4-1 record with a 3.94 ERA.
Pittsburgh heads into Friday with a major-league best 52-32 record.
