A.J. Burnett: "I expect to be throwing soon for the Pirates"

ST. LOUIS — A.J. Burnett completed a simulated game today at Busch Stadium. He threw six-plus innings and 90-plus pitches, then threw more in the bullpen. He threw fastballs, curveballs and changeups while facing Travis Snider, Michael Morse and Jaff Decker with Chris Stewart catching.

“I feel where I need to be,” said Burnett, who is on the 15-day disabled list because of a flexor strain in his right elbow. “A lot better than I expected to.”

Burnett can return to the roster without a corresponding move because the roster is expanded to 40 players in September. Last month, manager Clint Hurdle indicated that Burnett could be used as a spot-starter to give everyone an extra day of rest. He said today that the rotation will remain the same the next time through.

“I got hot out there [it was a thick 94 degrees in St. Louis] but I wasn't tired,” he said. “Then I went down to the 'pen, threw about 15 more after that. I'm very happy with where I'm at.”

Burnett, 38, is retiring after this season.

“I'm not looking at it as me,” he said. “I'm looking at it as getting back to healthy, as healthy as I can. I came back to help us win. I can't do that on the DL, obviously. The fact that this is my last year, and I want to go out and pitch again before I'm done, I'm trying to throw that aside and not worry about that.”

Burnett will throw a bullpen session Sunday, after which the Pirates will discuss his next step.

“I'm not getting paid to get our guys out, I know that,” he joked. “I need to get on the mound.

“I expect to be throwing soon for the Pirates, because I feel great.”

***The Pirates will not make a change in their rotation, Hurdle said. 

***Jeff Locke will have the option to travel to Cincinnati early because of Sunday night’s 7:05 p.m. local time start and Monday’s 1:10 Eastern Time Labor Day start at Great American Ball Park.

“We have sent pitchers ahead all season long on games of that nature, so yes,” Clint Hurdle said. “Sometimes they opt not to, but we’ve always afforded them the opportunity. Flights like when we went to New York and landed at 3 o’clock in the morning. The flight we just took last week. We always give the pitcher the option. More often than not they pick up on it.”