Pirates' Burnett (calf) unsure of return date

A.J. Burnett is wearing a walking boot over his torn right calf and isn't sure when he'll be ready to return.

Pirates put Burnett on 15-day DL with calf strain

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed ace A.J. Burnett on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right calf and filled his roster spot by activating right-hander Charlie Morton, who returns to the majors almost a year to the day after having Tommy John surgery.

MLB: Brian Cashman's winning ways

In ESPN The Magazine, MLB Insider Buster Olney examines how GM Brian Cashman is leading the Yankees in cutting payroll to get below the salary cap while still fielding a winning roster.

Burnett: 5 Wins In His Last 5 Starts On The North Side

From Elias: A. J. Burnett's bid for his second shutout in his last two starts at Wrigley Field fell victim to a ninth-inning homer by Alfonso Soriano, but that was the only hiccup in Burnett's 6-2 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Burnett has now won each of his last five starts in The Friendly Confines - a streak that started in 2004 when he was with the Marlins. Burnett became only the 20th pitcher to win five consecutive starts against the Cubs at Wrigley during their 98 seasons of baseball there; the only other active pitcher who did it was Adam Wainwright from 2008 to 2010. Among the others who did it: 300-game winners Warren Spahn and Tom Glavine, Hall-of-Famers Dazzy Vance and Juan Marichal, and the brother of a Hall-of-Famer, Paul Dean.

MLB - Burnett's curve getting more effective

Fantasy Facts - Bench Burnett

A.J. Burnett throws his curveball 33 percent of the time, most among pitchers with at least six starts. However, the Tigers are in the top five in MLB in batting average (.280), on-base percentage (.313) and slugging (.451) in at-bats ending in a curveball.

Fantasy Facts - Burnett throws his curveball often

A.J. Burnett has thrown his curveball 32 percent of the time, tied for most in the league among pitchers who have made at least 6 starts. The Mariners have hit a league-worst .131 in at-bats ending with a curveball.

Burnett Piling Up Strikeouts

A.J. Burnett leads the National League with 57 strikeouts after punching out nine batters in the Pirates' 3-1 victory over the Nationals. Only one other Pirates pitcher in the modern era (since 1900) had more than 55 strikeouts in his first seven starts of a season. That was Jose DeLeon, who K'd 62 batters in his first seven starts of the 1983 campaign.

Burnett Beats Cards Again

From Elias: A.J. Burnett improved his record to 2-2 as the Pirates won, 5-3, at St. Louis. Both of Burnett's wins this season have come at the expense of the Cardinals, against whom his ERA stands at 1.38. The last Pittsburgh pitcher to record two wins against St. Louis in the month of April was Brian Fisher in 1988. In 2012, Burnett was 1-2 with an ERA of 8.80 against the Cardinals.