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A.J. Burnett doesn't need elbow surgery, hopes to pitch this season

(AP)
(AP)

With many people fearing the worst, Pittsburgh Pirates starter A.J. Burnett got good news from doctors Monday: He doesn't need elbow surgery and he could pitch again this season.

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A 2015 return isn't guaranteed for Burnett, but it sure beats the alternative. Had he needed elbow surgery, his season was over and since Burnett, 38, has said this is final year, his career would be over too. Here's the diagnosis, via Fox Sports' Jon Morosi:

Burnett went on the disabled list Friday after a bout with elbow inflammation. He figured it was either his UCL (the ligament that requires Tommy John surgery) or his flexor tendor. So, basically, this is the best-case scenario.

Over the weekend, Burnett told Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“It’s just a matter of doing enough treatment and doing it where it’s tolerable again and building up some pain tolerance so I can stay on the mound in the stretch run,” he said.

The Pirates would be happy to get Burnett back in the rotation. He's 8-5 with a 3.06 ERA in 135 innings this season. That ERA would be the best of his career. It was jacked up in July, though, as a result of the elbow problems — 5.84 in six starts.

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Nonetheless, the Pirates (61-43) are trying to chase down the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central (they're 5.5 back) and if not, cruise into a wild-card spot. Having Burnett around would be certainly help Pittsburgh's cause.

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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at mikeozstew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!