The Pirates put right-hander Jeff Karstens on the disabled list after he pulled himself from Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks.
Karstens left Tuesday's game in Phoenix after one inning because of shoulder inflammation, an injury that cost him two starts in late 2011. He gave up two runs on three hits on Tuesday and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA in three starts this season.
The Pirates called up right-hander Brad Lincoln from Triple-A Indianapolis to take his place in the rotation, starting Tuesday against the Rockies at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. Lincoln, 26, is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts for Indianapolis. In 23 big-league games and 17 starts, he's 3-7 with a 5.74 ERA. He started eight games last season and was 2-3 with a 4.29 ERA.
The Pirates could also be getting right-hander A.J. Burnett back soon. He's scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday and then make his fourth rehab start on Saturday with Double-A Altoona.
"One more [rehab] start and then we'll go from there, barring any setbacks," manager Clint Hurdle told reporters on Tuesday (via the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review).
Burnett could make his debut April 27 against the Braves in Atlanta.
