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.

Jeff Karstens' (shoulder) rehab will be shut down for a week after he was diagnosed with a strained hip flexor.

Karstens suffered the injury during his most recent start on Thursday. Because he has a new injury, his rehab clock can restart, but he won't need nearly that much time before returning. "We're not expecting to use the full rehab (limit) for Jeff coming off the hip flexor because the shoulder was so close," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "We're hoping it's just a few days." Karstens should rejoin the rotation later this month.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) left a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Indianapolis after 4 2/3 innings due to tightness in his right groin.

Karstens gave up two runs on three hits while striking out five and walking none. He'll be given treatment and re-evaluated Friday.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) allowed five runs -- three earned -- on two hits and two walks over 4 1/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis Saturday.

The results weren't as good as his first outing, but it appears that he made it through fine health-wise, which is the most important thing. Karstens is expected to be stretched out to 80 pitches in his next rehab start, which could be his last.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) threw three scoreless innings on two hits while striking out one in his first rehab start at Double-A Altoona Monday.

It's a good start, but Karstens will need at least a couple more outings before rejoining the Pirates rotation. We could see him in early June if all goes well.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) felt good during a 20-pitch simulated game Wednesday.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said the big test will be how Karstens feels Thursday and then in a follow-up session Friday. "[That] will give us a better read on what the next step is for him," Hurdle said.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) will throw a one-inning simulated game Wednesday.

"I want to see a little more intensity from him in the `sim' game," Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage said. "Then, I want to see how he bounces back from that on Friday in a side session." Karstens could begin a rehab stint next week with Double-A Altoona and figures to be ready to rejoin the Pirates no later than early June if all goes well.

Jeff Karstens (shoulder) threw long-toss Wednesday.

Karstens will need to go out on a rehab assignment before returning, and it sounds like it might not be far off. The Pirates haven't set a timetable for him, but it seems feasible that he'll return sometime this month, barring a setback.

Pirates placed RHP Jeff Karstens on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.

Karstens was removed from Tuesday's start after just one inning. Brad Lincoln has been called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and figures to start next Tuesday against the Rockies, though A.J. Burnett (eye) is on the cusp of joining the rotation.

Updating an earlier item, Jeff Karstens left Tuesday's outing after one inning due to right shoulder inflammation.

It's not good news, obviously, but we won't know how serious the ailment is until the right-hander is examined further when the Pirates return home over the weekend. A.J. Burnett (orbital fracture) is due back next week, so he could wind up sliding into Karstens' spot.

Jeff Karstens gave up three runs in five innings Thursday in a loss to the Dodgers.

All three runs scored in the bottom of the first. All told, Karstens allowed seven hits while fanning three, walking one and hitting a batter. He'll carry a 3.27 ERA into a tough assignment on the road against the Diamondbacks next week.