PITTSBURGH -- A.J. Burnett's return to the mound -- and to the Pirates' rotation -- signals the start of a game of musical chairs for Pittsburgh starting pitchers. And on the other side of Tuesday's doubleheader, someone won't have an empty chair.
Manager Clint Hurdle confirmed Friday that Burnett will "be part of the rotation moving forward." Concurrently, Hurdle said the Bucs are not switching to a six-man rotation.
Odd man out?
The manager wasn't prepared to go there because the affected pitcher had not been told, and also because there is no hurry to streamline things.