Pirates activated LHP Joe Beimel from the 15-day disabled list.

Beimel has been dealing with a sore elbow since the beginning of spring training, but he showed he was healthy with three perfect innings during a rehab assignment. He'll serve as the Pirates' primary left-hander setup man.

Joe Beimel (elbow) could be cleared to return to the Pirates as early as Friday.

Beimel has looked healthy in a handful of rehab appearances at Triple-A Indianapolis and is on his way to Cincinnati to join up with the rest of the big league roster. If he has no soreness Friday morning when trainers do their final check, the Pirates will activate him and make him immediately available out of the bullpen.

Joe Beimel (elbow) has two scoreless innings over his first two rehab appearances with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Both innings have been perfect. He struck out a pair Monday and fanned one in an appearance on Tuesday afternoon. The veteran left-hander should be added to the Pirates' active roster sometime in the next week.

Joe Beimel (elbow) will shift his rehab assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday.

The Pirates want Beimel to face some tough competition at Triple-A before they activate him and stick him in the big league bullpen. He should be ready in a week.

Joe Beimel (elbow) tossed a perfect inning Friday in his first minor league rehab appearance with High-A Bradenton.

He didn't walk a batter while all three outs were recorded via ground balls. The veteran southpaw will probably have to prove he can pitch on back-to-back days before the Pirates consider adding him to the active roster.

Joe Beimel (elbow) will begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Bradenton.

Beimel signed a minor league deal with the Pirates in late January, but was limited two appearances during spring training due to a sore elbow. He pitched in an intersquad game the other day without any issues and it shouldn't be too long until he's ready to join the Pirates. Look for him later this month.

Joe Beimel (elbow) has been ruled out for the start of the regular season.

Beimel simply hasn't been able to get past his elbow soreness this spring and the Pirates don't want to rush him. He should be ready to go by the middle of April.

Joe Beimel (elbow) is expected to throw off a mound Thursday.

Good news. Beimel was given a cortisone shot in his left elbow on Monday and has played catch on consecutive days. Time is running short, but the veteran southpaw still thinks he has a chance to be ready for Opening Day.

Joe Beimel (elbow) is expected to play catch for a second straight day Wednesday.

Beimel says his elbow feels fine, but there's still no timetable for when he'll throw off a mound. "We'll take it day by day," said Beimel. "If (the elbow) stays the same, it shouldn't be too long." There's only week left of spring training, so it's unlikely that he'll have enough time to get ready for Opening Day. If the Pirates carry two left-handers in their pen, it looks like it will be Garrett Olson and Brian Burres.

Joe Beimel was given a cortisone shot in his elbow Monday morning in Pirates camp.

Beimel had to be scratched from a scheduled appearance Saturday due to elbow discomfort and is now doubtful for the start of the regular season. He won't throw for the next few days while the cortisone shot does its job.

Joe Beimel (elbow) might not be ready for Opening Day.

Beimel was scratched from Saturday's appearance after experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow. He's been dealing with soreness all month. "I'm not sure what to say about that at this point," Beimel said when asked if he would be ready for Opening Day. "It's definitely frustrating. I want to be out there pitching. But at the same time, I don't want to push it too hard to get ready for Opening Day and have a setback and be out for a lot longer. It's better to take care of it now and go from there."

Joe Beimel was scratched from Saturday's appearance after experiencing discomfort in his throwing elbow.

Beimel has been dealing with the soreness since early in March. The good news is that he had a previous MRI that revealed on structural damage, but it's certainly concerning that the soreness hasn't gone away. His status for Opening Day would seem to be in doubt.

Returning from a sore elbow, Joe Beimel yielded three runs -- one earned -- in an inning Monday against the Orioles.

It was the left-hander's first appearance of the spring. Barring a setback, he'll be in the bullpen on Opening Day.

Joe Beimel (elbow) is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut Monday against the Orioles.

Beimel threw 20 pitches of live batting practice on Friday morning in Pirates camp and was given clearance after reporting no pain or discomfort in his elbow. He's already undergone an MRI that showed no structural damage.

Joe Beimel (elbow) is scheduled to throw 20 pitches in live batting practice Friday.

Beimel was scratched from his first appearance of the spring with a sore left elbow, but an MRI revealed no structural damage. The veteran left-hander already completed a bullpen session this week and barring any setbacks, he shouldn't be far away from game action.

Joe Beimel (elbow) threw off flat ground Thursday.

Beimel underwent an MRI on his left elbow earlier this week after complaining of some mild discomfort. It showed no structural damage and the right-hander is expected to play catch on flat ground again Saturday.

Joe Beimel said Wednesday that an MRI exam showed "everything is healthy and sound" in his left elbow.

Good news. An earlier report had the MRI as inconclusive, so it appears that he went in for another exam. The veteran left-hander doesn't sound very concerned at this point and plans to throw off flat ground Thursday.

Joe Beimel underwent an MRI on his left elbow which came back inconclusive.

The Pirates sent Beimel for an MRI after he complained of elbow soreness over the weekend, but he says he feels much better now. The left-hander is scheduled to throw on Thursday.

Joe Beimel felt more discomfort in his elbow while throwing a bullpen session Tuesday morning.

The Pirates have shut Beimel down and sent him for an MRI. The left-hander has been telling reporters that he has no structural damage, but test results may show something different. For now, his status is uncertain.

Joe Beimel said Monday that there's no structural damage in his throwing elbow.

Beimel was scratched from throwing Sunday due to elbow soreness, but expects to be back soon. "It's not too big of a deal," said Beimel. "When I was playing catch, I over-extended on one (throw) and it got a little sore. I was a little worried because it's something I never felt before. They've done all the tests and there's nothing (wrong) with the ligament. It's one of those things where I can move it, like, 10 times and on the 11th it will hurt. Since (Sunday), it's become less and less (painful), to the point now that I don't really feel it." The veteran left-hander joined the Pirates on a minor league deal, but is a favorite to make the team as a left-handed specialist.