Jeff Karstens had a rough start to the year, and he was shelved quickly with a shoulder problem. His return was delayed because of a hip problem, but he's healthy enough to start against the Phillies. From the Post-Gazette:
Jeff Karstens Returns From DL, Starts Monday
Karstens was scheduled to make a rehabilitation start Sunday for Class AAA Indianapolis, but he never made the trip. Manager Clint Hurdle said everyone in the rotation will be pushed back a day, and Brad Lincoln will return to the bullpen.
Karstens is on the disabled list because of right shoulder inflammation and recently experienced pain in his hip. In his most recent rehab start Tuesday for Class AA Altoona, he allowed one run on six hits in seven innings.
Karstens made three starts for the Pirates before hitting the DL, allowing 15 hits and six runs in 12 innings. He was one of the Pirates' best starters last season, leveraging a career-low walk rate and posting a 3.38 ERA in 162 innings.
Brad Lincoln had his best start of the season on Saturday, going six innings, walking one, striking out seven, and allowing just two hits. But prior to that, he had been knocked around in his previous three starts.
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