A.J. Burnett activated by Pirates

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates activated A.J. Burnett off the 15-day disabled list and the right-hander is slated to start on Saturday night against St. Louis.

Burnett

Burnett will start in place of Kevin Correia, who was scratched with discomfort in his side. Burnett was scheduled to make one final rehab start at Double-A Altoona on Saturday but was summoned to Pittsburgh instead.

The 35-year-old Burnett has been out since fracturing his right orbital bone during a bunting drill on Feb. 29. He underwent surgery on March 2 and made three rehab starts, though he struggled with a 9.58 ERA in 10 1-3 innings split between Class-A Bradenton and Triple-A Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said Burnett will not be on a pitch count.

"I think there's a part of A.J. that felt the best thing for him was to pitch in the big leagues," Hurdle said.

The Pirates received Burnett in a trade with the New York Yankees in February, with the Yankees picking up about $20 million of the $33 million he's expected to make over the next two years.

Burnett was 34-35 with a 4.79 ERA during three seasons with New York.

To make room for Burnett, the Pirates optioned reliever Jared Hughes to Indianapolis. Hughes had a 2.08 ERA in five appearances this season.

Hurdle added the decision to skip Correia's start was a precautionary measure. The veteran right-hander went on the disabled list late last season with a strained oblique in the same side. Tests revealed no damage and there's a chance Correia (1-0, 1.50 ERA) could start on Monday against Colorado.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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