Worth noting

By Tom Singer

March 15, 2013

• A.J. Burnett will be pitching on six days' rest when he starts Saturday in a Minor League game. Burnett's schedule was adjusted to line him up to make his April 10 Opening Day start on regular rest.

Having Burnett stretch out in Pirate City while top prospect Gerrit Cole starts Pittsburgh's game in Fort Myers, Fla., against Minnesota will also allow Hurdle to see more "guys that we have to make decisions on."

• Chase d'Arnaud (strained left thumb) has a Sunday appointment with Dr. Thomas Graham, a renowned hand surgeon of the Cleveland Clinic.

• Left-hander Tony Watson, who has not appeared in a game as he works through some mechanical issues in bullpen sessions, is scheduled to make his first appearance since Feb. 28 in Sunday's game against the Yankees at McKechnie Field.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.