Jeff Karstens is currently dealing with some swelling in his left knee.

Karstens was hit in the knee by a comebacker in the fourth inning during his start against the Astros on Tuesday night. Fortunately he won't pitch again until after the All-Star break, so he has plenty of time to recover. The 28-year-old right-hander has been one of the biggest surprises of the first half, going 7-4 with a 2.55 ERA over 15 starts and four relief appearances.

Jeff Karstens kept beating the odds Thursday, limiting the Blue Jays to two runs on five hits and a walk over seven frames in a 6-2 Pirates win.

J.P. Arencibia and Yunel Escobar tagged Karstens with solo shots in the fifth, but that's all the Jays could muster against the Pirates' right-hander. At this point, we have to believe Karstens is at least partly for real, as he hasn't slipped up since his first start back on April 17. His ERA of 2.65 is lower than Cliff Lee's, in case you were keeping track. Karstens' next outing will come against the Astros.

Jeff Karstens yielded two runs -- one earned -- over seven innings as part of a no-decision against the Indians Sunday.

The sore knee that Karstens felt last time out was a non-issue. He struck out four, walked two and threw 61 of his 98 pitches for strikes. It's the fourth straight start that Karstens has gone at least 6 2/3 innings and he has given up a total of two earned runs over that span. Still, he's a risky play in a brutal matchup with the Red Sox next time out.

Jeff Karstens said his sore left knee is "no big deal."

Karstens allowed just three hits over 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Astros on Tuesday night, despite feeling twinges in his knee in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. With a 2.66 ERA and 47/12 K/BB ratio over 11 starts and four relief appearances, Karstens has flown under the radar as one of the season's biggest surprises. Assuming his knee is OK, he makes for a solid play against the fading Indians this weekend.

Jeff Karstens went toe-to-toe with Cole Hamels Friday, allowing just one run on four hits and no walks over seven innings in a 2-1 extra innings win over the Phillies.

He struck out just two and hit a batter, but it was another terrific performance from the right-hander. Karstens has now surrendered two earned runs or fewer in each of his last five outings and, perhaps even more impressive, has walked a total of two batters over that time. We don't expect that 3.30 ERA and 1.20 WHIP to last, but we can't blame you for keeping on throwing him out there until he flames out. He'll get the D'Backs next.

Jeff Karstens allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits in five innings of work on Sunday, taking the loss in Pittsburgh's 3-2 setback in Chicago.

He struck out four while walking none, allowing Aramis Ramirez's first home run since April 6 in the process. Now 3-4 with a symmetrical 3.58 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, Karstens should get the Phillies at home next Friday.

Jeff Karstens will make his next start Sunday against the Cubs.

The Pirates will have two off-days in the span of four days, so Pirates manager Clint Hurdle doesn't want Kevin Correia or Paul Maholm to pitch on six days' rest. "Unfortunately, more often than not that fifth guy is the guy that can be systematically moved around when situations call for moving one piece around, as opposed to moving three pieces around," said Hurdle. Karstens hasn't pitched since last Friday and is available out of the bullpen for Wednesday's game.

Jeff Karstens gave up two runs over five innings in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

Karstens is winless since April 23, but has allowed three earned runs or less in each of his last five starts, though he's completed six innings in only two of them. He now has a 3.62 ERA and 29/11 K/BB ratio over his first 37 1/3 innings this season. It's probably too good to be true considering his injury history and past performance, but he's at least worth consideration in NL-only leagues at the moment.

Jeff Karstens hurled six innings of two-run ball in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Nationals.

Karstens struck out three batters and walked only one, exiting to a standing ovation from the PNC Park crowd. He now stands 2-0 on the season with a respectable 3.94 ERA. The 28-year-old will get the Giants next.

Jeff Karstens will start Friday against the Nationals.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle didn't make any promises after Karstens gave up five runs over 4 1/3 innings against the Reds on Sunday, but he'll continue to fill in for the injured Ross Ohlendorf for now. He can safely be ignored in all fantasy formats, though.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Jeff Karstens won't be available out of the bullpen Friday or Saturday, as he's in line to start Sunday.

Though it's been suspected all along, Hurdle has finally officially committed to Karstens to fill Ross Ohlendorf's (shoulder) spot in the rotation. His pitch count will likely be limited initially, but he's not a viable fantasy option, anyway.

Jeff Karstens allowed just an unearned run over 4 2/3 innings in his first spring start Monday against the Twins.

Karstens might have won a rotation spot had he been involved in the competition this spring, but the Pirates have been looking at him as a middle reliever. He has a 1.54 ERA in 11 2/3 innings.

Jeff Karstens currently is not favored to win a rotation spot.

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said, "He's in the mix, but right now he's on the outside looking in." Huntington is concerned about Karstens' durability, as he "seemed to hit a wall" when he stayed in games too long last year. The Pirates certainly will find a place for him, but he faces an uphill battle to become anything more than a middle reliever this season.

The Pirates are not sure how they want to use Jeff Karstens in 2011.

Pitching Coach Ray Searage commented, "As spring training approaches, we're going to see where Jeff fits in our staff. I'm not prepared to say what role Jeff will play this year." In five seasons, Karstens has started 50 games and relieved in 39. Until he proves otherwise, his career 5.07 ERA and 1.44 makes him somewhat of a liability in both roles.

Pirates and RHP Jeff Karstens avoided arbitration Thursday by agreeing to a one-year, $1.1 million contract.

Karstens gets a nice little raise from the $475,000 that he hauled in during the 2010 season. He finished with a pedestrian 4.92 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 26 appearances, but the Pirates think the 28-year-old will improve next season and he may be a fringe option in NL-only leagues.

Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates are close to a contract with right-hander Jeff Karstens.

Karstens made $475,000 this past season and is probably asking for a deal worth close to $1 million. He finished 2010 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 26 appearances (19 starts) and will serve as a mid-rotation starter for the Pirates next season. He doesn't carry much fantasy value, if any.

Jeff Karstens returned to action on Thursday September 30.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) threw a successful bullpen session Monday.

"It was amazing," Karstens told the Tribune-Review with a smile. The reliever, sidelined since August 31 with shoulder soreness, is expected to return to the Pirates' bullpen on either Wednesday or Thursday.

Jeff Karstens feels ready to resume working in games after throwing 50 pitches on Friday.

Karstens has been sidelined since Aug. 31 due to shoulder soreness. If he returns, it will be as a middle reliever.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch side session Wednesday.

Karstens reported feeling fine after the quick workout and is aiming to return to the Pirates for a couple of relief appearances before the year is through. With less than two weeks remaining in the regular season, however, time is not on his side. The righty has been out since late August.