Jeff Karstens will make his scheduled start Friday despite a left groin injury. Karstens suffered the injury in his last outing, but he underwent test that came back clean and got through his between-starts bullpen session with no issues. "Relieved? Yes, but I still don't know," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's trying to be as up front with us as he can be, and is doing what he needs to get ready to start. We'll see where that takes us."

Jeff Karstens dominated the Cardinals Sunday, allowing just two runs on two hits and one walk in seven innings, but got stuck with a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 6-3, 19-inning win. Karstens struck out four in one of his best starts of the season. He was one of 16 pitchers to appear in the six-hour, seven-minute marathon. The Pirates burned Monday's starter Wandy Rodriguez, who pitched two innings for the win. Now the owner of a 3.79 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 54/15 K/BB ratio through 76 innings, Karstens will get the Brewers at home next weekend.

Jeff Karstens turned in a quality start in a no-decision against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits over his six innings. Karstens punched out four in the game without walking a batter. Stephen Drew was his nemesis in this one, singling and scoring to get the Snakes on the board in the first inning, blasting a solo homer in the third and driving home the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the fourth. Karstens has quietly had a very nice season for the Pirates, going 4-2 with a 3.77 ERA and 46/13 K/BB ratio over 62 innings. He'll attempt to get back in the win column when he squares off against the Padres at home on Sunday.

Jeff Karstens pitched five innings of one-run ball in a victory over the Cubs on Wednesday. The Pirates chose Karstens over Kevin Correia when they had to reshape their rotation following the Wandy Rodriguez acquisition, and we think they made the right call. Karstens is 4-0 with a 2.53 ERA over his last six starts.

Jeff Karstens allowed four runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings in Monday's loss to the Rockies. He was cruising until the fifth, when the Rockies touched him up for all four of his runs. Karstens struck out four on the night and didn't allow a homer, so it was a pretty solid outing in the thin air. He'll carry a 4.15 ERA and 1.21 WHIP into this weekend's start against the Marlins.

Jeff Karstens limited the Cardinals to two runs over seven innings Saturday as part of a 7-3 win. Karstens was bombed in his return from the disabled list on Monday, but he bounced back quite nicely in this one. He gave up just four hits while striking out seven and walking a pair. While he's a poor bet to duplicate his 3.38 ERA from last season, he should be relevant in NL-only leagues as long as he's healthy.

Jeff Karstens wasn't sharp in his return to the rotation, getting rocked for seven runs - six earned - on 11 hits over five innings in a loss to the Phillies. A couple errors in a four-run first certainly didn't help, but Karstens was hit hard from the get-go in this one. He's posted a 6.35 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in his limited stay in the majors this season. Karstens will get the Cardinals this weekend.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) has been scratched from Sunday's rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis and is expected to join the Pirates' rotation this week. What day he'll get the ball isn't yet known. Karstens appeared to be ready for activation last week when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball for Double-A Altoona. He'll likely replace Brad Lincoln in the rotation.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) is scheduled to make his next minor league rehab start Sunday for Triple-A Indianapolis. Karstens tossed seven innings of one-run ball for Double-A Altoona on Tuesday. He originally landed on the DL in mid-April with right shoulder inflammation, but was recently shut down for a week due to a strained right hip flexor. Barring any further setbacks, he should rejoin the Pirates' rotation by the end of the month.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Altoona. Karstens, who is currently working his way back from right shoulder inflammation, was shut down last week after leaving a rehab start with a strained hip flexor. He should rejoin the Pirates' rotation later this month if all goes well.