efficiency, followed by three other clubs who also are playing perhaps better than expected — the Cubs, Indians and Padres. • A . J . Burnett is again putting together a strong free-agent year. He ranks first in the NL in strikeout rate (11.29 per nine innings
two doubles and Brandon Inge had two hits for Pittsburgh, which lost for the second time in nine games. Pittsburgh starter A . J . Burnett held Houston to one run in seven innings while allowing five hits and four walks, but wound up with a no-decision when
wrap up a three-game home series against the Houston Astros on Sunday. Pittsburgh got another strong start Saturday with A . J . Burnett going seven innings, but the bullpen couldn't hold a one-run lead after six and the Pirates (25-18) lost 4-2 in
for assignment last weekend. Humber was 0-8 with a 9.59 ERA in nine games, including seven starts, for the Astros. ... LHP Erik Bedard (0-2, 6.67) will start Saturday night for Houston against RHP A . J . Burnett (3-4, 2
the Pittsburgh Pirates send the NL strikeout leader to the mound against the most strikeout-prone team in the majors. A . J . Burnett will try to lead the surging Pirates to their season-high fifth straight win Saturday night when they take on the AL-worst
Meyer provides the 12 best/worst matchups in the MLB at noon. 12 at 12 Fantasy Baseball Matchups
3-2 in Sunday's finale with Pedro Alvarez providing the tiebreaking single in the eighth inning. Pittsburgh turns to A . J . Burnett as it tries to win four straight for the first time since July 25-28. The veteran right-hander has allowed two runs or
Felix Hernandez and A . J . Burnett each have pitched extremely well of late for the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively. While Hernandez looks
Updated May 3, 2013 11:25 PM ET PITTSBURGH (AP) A . J . Burnett doesn't lead the major leagues in strikeouts. He just wants to and is awful close. ''I'm trying to keep up with Yu Darvish
his last five starts while shaving his ERA to 1.53. Tom Wilhelmsen worked the ninth for his ninth save. Pittsburgh's A . J . Burnett (3-3) was almost as sharp, giving up just two hits over seven innings while striking out nine. Yet he also walked four