UPDATE:

AJ Burnett was diagnosed w/a flexor strain in his right elbow today. He received a PRP injection & estimated time of return is approx 4 wks.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 3, 2015

 

2:43 PM: The news on A.J. Burnett seemed dire as of yesterday: the possibility of a torn UCL and, given his lack of a desire to have surgery, the likely end of his career.

Today things are slightly better. But only slightly.

A.J. Burnett has a strained flexor tendon. UCL is intact. He will undergo treatment in hopes of pitching again this year. #Pirates

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 3, 2015

It’s still not a given of course. Lots of guys miss whole seasons with flexor tendon issues and surgery is often an option to address it. Morosi suggests that Burnett could pitch through the pain of it, but of course there’s no guarantee that he can even be effective.

Better than a torn UCL I suppose, though still not fantastic news.