Burnett (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Burnett threw a simulated game Friday and reported that everything went well. There's no next step planned yet after Sunday's bullpen session, but a mid-September return appears to be the timetable for now.

Burnett (elbow) threw a simulated game Friday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

Burnett pitched a five-inning simulated game Sunday as well and reported feeling good afterward, so the 38-year-old appears to be progressing well. The team had earlier indicated they were targeting a return for the Sept. 15-17 series against the Cubs, which seems to still be in reach.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett threw a simulated game Friday while recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett threw a simulated game Friday while recovering from an elbow injury, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Burnett reported no pain after the session, and while he remains hopeful that he will be able to return to the big club in mid-September, he maintains that he will not rush back. “Right now I'm pulling back the reins as opposed to working through something, so that’s where I need to be,” he said. “I’m in a good spot. I want to be smart about it. If I need more time, I’ll take more time." Burnett said after pitching a successful simulated game Sunday that he has no interest in going on a rehab assignment or pitching out of the bullpen, meaning he likely will not be activated until he feels he can provide length in the starting rotation.

The Pirates are targeting the Sept. 15-17 series against the Cubs as a potential return date for Burnett (elbow), the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

He completed a five-inning, 71-pitch simulated game Sunday with ease. "Everything is fresh; everything is in the zone, very efficient work today," Burnett noted. The veteran added that he has no interest making a rehab start or pitching out of the bullpen.

Burnett (elbow) will pitch in a simulated game Sunday, Stephen Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Burnett, who participated in a 55-pitch bullpen session Tuesday will try to mix in more curveballs this go-around as he works his way back from a strained flexor tendon that forced the 38-year-old on the DL in the beginning of August. Burnett's mid-September return doesn't appear to be in jeopardy --- a welcome sign for workhorse starters Gerrit Cole and Franscio Liriano who could stand to trim some innings as the Pirates begin their playoff push.

The Pirates are now targeting mid-September for a return by Burnett (elbow), according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The righty completed a 55-pitch session that pitching coach Ray Searage called "outstanding" and will throw three innings in a simulated game Sunday. Manager Clint Hurdle initially sounded as though he expected Burnett back sooner rather than later, but apparently that won't be the case -- he didn't throw any curveballs Tuesday. Whenever the veteran returns, Pittsburgh intends on using him as a starter.

The Pirates should get a quick read on a timetable for Burnett (elbow) following his simulated game Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle noted how Burnett has good numbers against several September opponents and could give workhorses Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano extra days off. "He wants to be smart with it and he also wants to have a sense of urgency with it in a smart way," Hurdle said of Burnett. "So, we're not going to sit and take an extra week. If we think we can go, we're going to bump this thing forward. I'm looking forward to seeing how he pitches Tuesday."

Burnett (elbow) is expected to throw a 30-pitch simulated game Tuesday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Burnett is expected to throw more than just fastballs Tuesday, a good indication of that he's progressing well in his rehab. It's still tough to place an exact timeline on his return, but it could be in early-to-mid September if he continues without a setback.

Burnett (elbow) played catch from various distances Sunday and will throw off the mound in the coming week, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Manager Clint Hurdle expects Burnett to be honest about how his elbow feels. "He's not going to take the mound again if he feels like he did when he finished up," Hurdle said. "It's in nobody's best interest. He's really understanding of that, from a personal standpoint as well as a team standpoint."

Burnett (elbow) is feeling good and will likely throw from a mound once the Pirates return from their current road trip, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

All signs point toward a return in September for Burnett, as he's been able to progress back from his injury more quickly than expected. Once he throws from a mound, the Pirates may be able to determine a more specific schedule for his return to game action.

Burnett (elbow) threw long toss on the field prior to Wednesday's game, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Burnett has made progress more quickly than initially anticipated, which could bump up his timetable a bit. The veteran hurler still remains a ways away, however, making it difficult to speculate when he will be able to return.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett threw long toss Wednesday while recovering from a shoulder injury, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett threw long toss Wednesday while recovering from a shoulder injury, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Burnett does not have a timetable for return.

Burnett (elbow), who played catch both Saturday and Sunday, is making faster progress than expected, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The Pirates won't push Burnett back before he's ready, but it appears he could return before mid September. "We're testing out where he is and how quickly is that inflammation getting knocked out of there, how quickly is the discomfort out of there," GM Neal Huntington said. "A.J. would like to come back in much less than four weeks, and we want to make sure that we put him in a position to be successful."

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett played catch Saturday and Sunday and is making progress faster than expected in his recovery from a flexor strain in his right elbow, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett played catch Saturday and Sunday and is making progress faster than expected in his recovery from a flexor strain in his right elbow, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Burnett is now expected to return sometime in September. "We're testing out where he is and how quickly is that inflammation getting knocked out of there, how quickly is the discomfort out of there," general panager Neal Huntington said. "A.J. would like to come back in much less than four weeks, and we want to make sure that we put him in a position to be successful." The Pirates currently have the second best record in the National League, and Burnett, who considered retiring after last season, has been a major part of the team's success. In 21 starts, he has an 8-5 record with a 3.06 ERA.

Burnett (elbow) played light catch on the field prior to Sunday's game, MLB.com's Adam Berry reports.

Don't read too much into this, as Burnett is still expected to be several weeks away from ramping up a throwing program. Even if he's able to return before the end of the season, he'll likely provide limited value in what projects to be just a few starts at the most.

Burnett (elbow) will rest for four weeks and then begin a throwing program, the Beaver County Times reports.

Burnett might not even begin throwing until September. "The timetable is kind of iffy," he said. "It could be a little shorter or a little longer. We'll know more once I start move around again and see how I feel." Fantasy owners need to weigh their options before deciding whether three or four potential starts in September is enough to keep Burnett around.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will rest for four weeks before beginning a throwing program as he attempts to recover from an elbow injury, according to the Beaver County Times.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will rest for four weeks before beginning a throwing program as he attempts to recover from an elbow injury, according to the Beaver County Times. Burnett was placed on the 15-day disabled list last Friday and a subsequent MRI revealed a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. “I was hoping there was nothing wrong, just some inflammation,” Burnett said before Monday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs. “If I was going to get bad news then this is the best I could hope for. I’m still going to have a chance to come back this season and that’s what I want more than anything. The timetable is kind of iffy. It could be a little shorter or a little longer. We’ll know more once I start move around again and see how I feel." If Burnett's rehab goes smoothly he could rejoin the rotation before the end of the regular season, but any setback would keep him sidelined until 2016.

Burnett (elbow) has a strained flexor tendon, but his UCL is intact and is undergoing treatment with the goal of pitching again this season, Jon Morosi of Fox Sports 1 reports.

While the team feared the worst that Burnett's seasonand possibly careerwas done, this is surprisingly positive news. While the injury is still severe and could keep him out for the rest of the season, it looks as if he could come back before the end of the season. With a four-game lead on the top wild card spot, the Pirates will hope Burnett is available to come back this season to cement the top half of their rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett intends to pitch again this season despite suffering from a strained flexor tendon, according to Fox Sports 1.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett intends to pitch again this season despite suffering from a strained flexor tendon, according to Fox Sports 1. There was speculation that Burnett would not pitch again after being placed on the disabled list with right elbow inflammation, but an MRI revealed that his UCL is intact. Burnett said that he will not undergo surgery to resolve the issue. "In my mind, surgery is not an option," he told MLB.com. "I'd built up some pain tolerance. It comes and goes, part of doing this 16 years. You figure out what you can and can't do." Burnett, who considered retirement after last season, has had what may be the best season of his career after signing a one-year, $8.5 million deal in November, tallying a 3.06 earned-run average and 36 walks in 135.1 innings. If Burnett is able to avoid surgery, it is possible he could return for the postseason.

Burnett (forearm/elbow) will be examined by team doctors Monday and expects to require an MRI, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. Regarding his condition, Burnett said, "The soreness and stiffness [in the elbow area] are a lot better now. But I don't expect it to go away and I don't expect it to get better."

Burnett, who was previously contemplating retirement before signing a one-year deal with the Pirates last November, has said he won't consider surgery regardless of the severity of the injury. If tests Monday show that Burnett is dealing with any structural damage to a tendon or ligament, the veteran right-hander seems content to hang up his cleats for good. It certainly seems like Burnett could be dealing with a serious injury, as his velocity checked in around the mid-80s in his last outing Thursday, which resulted in his placement on the DL. Burnett's potential absence during the postseason would be a tremendous loss for the Pirates, as their starting depth drops off tremendously after Gerrit Cole and Francisco Liriano.