Andrew Mccutchen
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2010Hawks9935943854315311498124160.2370.3280.387
2011Hawks8932650853524213406024250.2610.3490.466
2012Lightning1596339712578293247113929000.1970.2860.367
2013Lightning15257591168112278254612225000.2920.3450.497
2014Lightning1576421141879539625629436010.2910.3600.488
2015Lightning14658085137912610214912030010.2360.3050.424
2016Lightning1575768413878411247815415120.2400.3380.439
2017Lightning391222027247174320000.2210.2640.467
2018Wranglers151591811314922219701499030.2220.3100.362
2019Wowies1555578212867321197613916240.2300.3270.393
2020Wowies60223324528130831564360.2020.2990.368
2021Ark Angels3713217301840510311000.2270.2820.371
2022Ark Angels1033377103390000.2120.2780.515
2023Ark Angels130458609358160196113414130.2030.3010.362
2024Old Geezers10231951723219011678410130.2260.3670.389
2025Old Geezers00000000000000.0000.0000.000
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 28 2025McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run single and a run scored in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen played a key role in the Pirates' six-run eighth inning, when he drove in a two-run single before coming around to score on a Bryan Reynolds two-run double. McCutchen has reached base safely in nine of his last 11 starts, and over that span he has gone 14-for-47 (.298) with two home runs and five RBI.
Jun 25 2025McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game in Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had started each of the previous eight contests but will get a breather in Wednesday's series finale. Bryan Reynolds will receive a day off from playing the outfield and will replace McCutchen at designated hitter.
Jun 19 2025McCutchen went 4-for-8 with a double, a solo homer and a second run scored in Thursday's doubleheader split with Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen extended Pittsburgh's lead to 4-0 in the nightcap with his eighth homer of the year and third in seven games, a 382-foot blast off Keider Montero in the third inning. McCutchen now has at least one hit in 10 of his last 11 games, going 16-for-44 (.364) with seven extra-base hits in that span. Overall, the veteran outfielder is slashing .271/.355/.432 with 28 RBI and 24 runs scored through 263 plate appearances this season.
Jun 15 2025McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a chance to catch his breath after starting eight straight games. Alexander Canario will pick up a start in right field while Bryan Reynolds occupies McCutchen's usual spot at designated hitter.
Jun 11 2025McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 38-year-old launched a hanging splitter from Cal Quantrill over the center field fence in the fifth inning, giving Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead. The homer was the sixth of the season for McCutchen, and his 241st in a Pirates uniform -- passing the immortal Roberto Clemente on the franchise's all-time list, and putting him into third place behind two other Hall of Famers, Ralph Kiner (301) and Willie Stargell (475). Through 60 games this season, McCutchen is slashing .263/.354/.405 with 21 runs and 25 RBI.
Jun 6 2025McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's streak of seven consecutive starts comes to an end Friday, as he'll yield to Brian Reynolds at DH. McCutchen is 0-for-11 with six strikeouts over his last three outings.
Jun 1 2025McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and three strikeouts in Sunday's 6-4 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has homered in consecutive games after going over a month without a long ball. He was productive during the weekend series in San Diego, going 5-for-12 with three extra-base hits and three RBI. The veteran has five homers, 18 RBI, 18 runs scored and a stolen base while batting .264 with a .770 OPS through 52 contests on the year.
May 31 2025McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a second run scored and a walk in Saturday's 5-0 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has logged multiple hits in four of his last seven games, going 10-for-28 (.357) in that span. The homer was his first since April 27 versus the Dodgers. The 38-year-old veteran is up to a .265/.370/.388 slash line with four homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored, nine doubles and one stolen base over 200 plate appearances this season. He continues to hold down a spot as the Pirates' primary designated hitter.
May 27 2025McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting each of Pittsburgh's last five contests and going 7-for-17 with six walks and three runs scored, McCutchen will get a chance to rest his legs Tuesday. His absence will move Oneil Cruz into the DH spot while Tommy Pham, Alexander Canario and Bryan Reynolds start in the outfield.
May 23 2025McCutchen went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored Thursday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is hitting only .203 across 19 games in May and has not had a multi-hit effort since April 27. While he still has a .342 on-base percentage in that span, McCutchen has been limited to only two RBI and three runs scored for the month.
May 21 2025McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had started each of the previous six games and 13 of the last 14, so he's earned a breather for Wednesday's matinee. Bryan Reynolds is getting a start at designated hitter and Alexander Canario will cover right field.
May 13 2025McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will start Tuesday's contest on the bench after going 1-for-3 with a walk during Monday's series opener. His absence will put Joey Bart into the DH spot while Henry Davis catches and bats ninth.
May 4 2025McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will receive a breather after serving as Pittsburgh's designated hitter for 12 straight games, slashing .298/.377/.511 during that stretch. The Pirates will give Joey Bart a day off from catching and deploy him as the DH in place of McCutchen.
Apr 30 2025McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run double in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen put the Pirates up for good in the seventh inning, when his double to center field off Brad Keller plated Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Bryan Reynolds. McCutchen has logged at least one hit in nine of his last 10 games, and over that span he has gone 13-for-40 (.325) with one stolen base, five runs scored, two home runs and seven RBI.
Apr 19 2025McCutchen is not in the Pirates' starting lineup against the Guardians on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will begin Saturday's game on the bench after going 1-for-10 with one stolen base and three runs scored over his last three starts. Oneil Cruz will serve as the designated hitter while Jack Suwinski gets the start in center field.
Apr 13 2025McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will hit the bench for the third time in seven games as he fills a part-time role in the corner outfield while Bryan Reynolds deals with a sore right tricep that limits him to DH. Alexander Canario will get a look in right field Sunday while McCutchen takes a seat.
Apr 11 2025McCutchen is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bryan Reynolds (triceps) being unable to play the field continues to eat into McCutchen's playing time, as the Pirates don't appear willing to let him play the outfield every day. Adam Frazier is in right field and hitting eighth Friday.
Apr 8 2025McCutchen is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has a .988 OPS through 26 plate appearances this season but will receive a day off Tuesday. Bryan Reynolds is serving as the designated hitter while Jack Suwinski receives a start in the outfield.
Apr 7 2025McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored in Monday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen ripped a two-run double and came around to score during Pittsburgh's four-run seventh inning. He's turned in two multi-hit performances over his last three appearances, boosting his season slash line to .348/.423/.565 with three extra-base hits and four RBI through 26 plate appearances. McCutchen appears to be a safe bet for regular playing time, even as Bryan Reynolds occasionally slots in as a DH while he nurses a minor triceps issue.
Apr 4 2025McCutchen went 3-for-4 in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's playing time has been reduced while Bryan Reynolds is limited to designated hitter due to a triceps injury that affects his throwing but not his hitting. This led to McCutchen being on the bench for three games in a row. The Pirates were comfortable putting the right-handed-hitting McCutchen in right field Friday versus southpaw Max Fried, but it has typically been Jack Suwinski filling in while Reynolds is limited. McCutchen is 6-for-18 (.333) with a home run, two RBI and a double across his first six contests this season.
Apr 2 2025McCutchen remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the third game in a row, McCutchen finds himself out of the lineup. The Pirates haven't indicated that McCutchen is dealing with an injury, and the 38-year-old came off the bench in Tuesday's 7-0 loss to Tampa Bay and recorded a base hit in a ninth-inning pinch-hitting appearance. Rather than because of his own health, McCutchen's recent absences seem to be a byproduct of Bryan Reynolds dealing with right tricep soreness, according to Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports. Reynolds has still been able to take at-bats without discomfort while he manages the injury, so he'll remain in the lineup at designated hitter for the third straight game while Jack Suwinski fills in for him in right field. Once Reynolds is ready to play the outfield again, McCutchen could be prioritized over Suwinski.
Apr 1 2025McCutchen is not in the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen isn't dealing with any known injury, but he's now been absent from the Pirates' lineup for three of the last four games. Bryan Reynolds is getting a start in the designated hitter spot, while Jack Suwinski is covering right field.
Mar 31 2025McCutchen is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will sit for the second time this season after he made three starts during the Pirates' four-game series with the Marlins last week. Bryan Reynolds will get a day off from outfield duty and will occupy the designated-hitter spot while McCutchen hits the bench.
Mar 30 2025McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen rested Saturday but returned to the lineup one day later. He also bumped up to the cleanup spot and delivered a solo home run -- his first long ball of the season -- to lead off the second inning. McCutchen has two hits across 11 at-bats but has struck out only once in the early going.
Mar 29 2025McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 1-for-7 with an RBI and a walk over the first two games of the series, McCutchen will take a seat Saturday. Bryan Reynolds will serve as Pittsburgh's DH instead while Jack Suwinski starts in right field.
Dec 23 2024The Pirates signed McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million contract Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the same contract terms that McCutchen inked last offseason. The 38-year-old collected a .739 OPS with 20 home runs in 2024 as the Pirates' full-time designated hitter. He should have the same role for Pittsburgh in 2025.
Sep 29 2024McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will sit for a second straight game as Bryan Reynolds serves as the designated hitter Sunday and bats second. Unless he comes in to pinch hit, McCutchen will end the regular season slashing .232/.328/.411 with 20 home runs and 50 RBI across 515 plate appearances.
Sep 28 2024McCutchen isn't in Pittsburgh's lineup Saturday versus the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is 0-for-11 with four strikeouts over his last three games, and he'll now get a chance to rest while Bryan Reynolds serves as the Pirates' DH and Billy Cook starts in left field.
Sep 21 2024McCutchen is absent from the starting nine Saturday at Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 37-year-old will give way to Oneil Cruz at DH on Saturday while Billy Cook slides to center field. McCutchen is 9-for-32 (.281) with a pair of home runs over his last nine games.
Sep 19 2024McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had a couple hits and scored a run in Wednesday's loss to the Cardinals, but he will begin Thursday's series finale on the bench. The Pirates are going with Bryan Reynolds at designated hitter and Nick Yorke in left field.
Sep 16 2024McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in St. Louis, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the previous three and six of the last seven contests, but he will begin Monday's series opener on the bench. Joey Bart will get a start at designated hitter in McCutchen's stead.
Sep 11 2024McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen slugged a three-run home run in Tuesday's win over the Marlins, but he'll get a breather in Wednesday's matinee. Bryan Reynolds will be in the designated hitter spot for the Pirates while Billy Cook gets a start in left field.
Sep 8 2024McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Sunday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's third-inning blast was his 19th of the season, placing him just one shy of reaching the 20-homer milestone for the second time since 2018. The 37-year-old veteran has been battling a knee issue but has been productive when in the lineup, batting 17-for-53 (.321) with six home runs and 17 RBI over 15 games since the start of August.
Sep 7 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a breather to conclude Saturday's activities after going 0-for-4 with a strikeout during Game 1. Bryan Reynolds will serve as Pittsburgh's DH, opening up a spot in left field for Michael Taylor.
Sep 6 2024McCutchen (knee) is batting cleanup as the designated hitter Friday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 37-year-old was held out of the lineup the past two days due to some lingering knee soreness, but he's ready to rejoin the starting nine Friday. McCutchen was productive when healthy in August, as he had a .368/.457/.737 slash line with four homers in 11 games.
Sep 5 2024McCutchen (knee) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had to be scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Cubs due to lingering left knee soreness, which is the same injury he just returned from last week. He'll miss a second straight start Thursday and is considered day-to-day. Bryan Reynolds will shift into the designated hitter spot for the Pirates while Billy McKinney handles left field.
Sep 4 2024Pirates manager Derek Shelton said McCutchen was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Cubs due to the veteran's knee being "a little cranky," Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 37-year-old was activated from the injured list late last week after missing some time due to knee inflammation, and the injury is apparently still a bit bothersome. Shelton indicated McCutchen will be available off the bench, so it doesn't appear to be a significant issue.
Sep 1 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get some routine maintenance for Sunday's matinee game after he served as the Pirates' designated hitter in both of the team's first two games in Cleveland upon being activated from the injured list. The 37-year-old showed no sign of being troubled by the knee issue that forced him to the IL on Aug. 17, as he went 3-for-8 with a home run, a double, a walk, four RBI and two runs in his first two games back in the lineup.
Aug 30 2024McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 10-8 loss to Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The former MVP was the designated hitter and batted cleanup in his first action since Aug. 16 due to left knee inflammation. He tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth when he laced a two-RBI double off Ben Lively. However, McCutchen wasn't done yet, cracking a 369-foot solo shot off Emmanuel Clase -- only the second homer the Cleveland closer has allowed all season -- in the ninth inning. Overall, the 37-year-old is now slashing .238/.337/.415 with 17 homers, 61 runs scored and 43 RBI in 442 plate appearances across 102 games.
Aug 28 2024McCutchen (knee) recently went through a full workout which included running the bases, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is eligible for activation from the 10-day injured list now and believes he's ready to return, but the Pirates are still discussing the next step for the veteran designated hitter. He's been out since mid-August with left knee inflammation.
Aug 17 2024The Pirates placed McCutchen on the 10-day injured list Saturday due to left knee inflammation, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen suffered the injury in the seventh inning of Friday's game against Seattle while running to first base. The 37-year-old was in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and over his last 15 games he's slashed .278/.385/.481 with three home runs and 14 RBI across 62 plate appearances. Oneil Cruz is serving as the designated hitter for Saturday's contest, though Joey Bart has served as the DH in three of the Pirates' last seven games, which could mean more starts behind home plate for Yasmani Grandal. Infielder Alika Williams was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.
Aug 16 2024McCutchen was removed from Friday's game against the Mariners due to left knee discomfort. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen suffered the injury while running to first base on a single in the seventh inning, and he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury has yet to be determined, though it's possible he gets a day off to recover Saturday.
Aug 14 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the Pirates wrapping up their series in San Diego with a day game after a night game, McCutchen will receive some routine maintenance. The 37-year-old has been in the midst of a heater to begin August, slashing .370/.485/.741 with three home runs, nine RBI and six runs over eight games.
Aug 12 2024McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two homers and four RBI in Sunday's loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen got the Pirates on the board with a two-run blast off Tyler Glasnow in the third and then replicated that with another two-run shot in the eighth to tie the game at 4-4. With Sunday's effort, he became one of five players in franchise history with at least 600 extra-base hits. Despite hitting the bench in three straight games coming into Sunday, McCutchen has been swinging a hot bat when in the lineup. Over his last six games, the 37-year-old is slashing .400/.500/.900 with three homers, eight RBI and six runs scored. For the year, McCutchen is slashing .234/.335/.408 with 16 homers, 38 RBI, 59 runs, three steals and a 50:111 BB:K in 424 plate appearances.
Aug 10 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is absent from the starting nine for a third consecutive game, an interesting development for the 37-year-old who has operated as Pittsburgh's everyday DH. It's possible McCutchen is dealing with an injury, but there haven't been any updates regarding his string of absences. Joey Bart will start at DH and bat cleanup Saturday.
Aug 9 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will sit down for a second consecutive game Friday despite going 6-for-15 with a homer and four RBI since the start of August. His absence will put Joey Bart in as the designated hitter while Yasmani Grandal starts behind the plate.
Aug 8 2024McCutchen is not in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Padres, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went deep in the Pirates' extra-inning loss to the Padres on Wednesday, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's matinee. Bryan Reynolds will get a start at the designated hitter spot while Bryan De La Cruz, Michael Taylor and Ji Hwan Bae patrol the outfield.
Aug 6 2024McCutchen (quadriceps) is batting leadoff as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 37-year-old was withheld from Sunday's starting nine after he tweaked his quad during Saturday's contest, but he'll make a quick return to the lineup Tuesday. McCutchen has a .240/.345/.360 slash line with one homer and an 8:14 BB:K in 14 games since the All-Star break.
Aug 5 2024McCutchen (quadriceps) walked in his only plate appearance and scored a run Sunday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was out of the lineup after injuring his quad Saturday night, though his pinch-hit appearance bodes well for him avoiding the injured list. He was also not pinch-run for after reaching base and scored from second base on a single.
Aug 4 2024McCutchen (quadricep) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen departed Saturday's contest due to left quadriceps tightness and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one game. Joey Bart will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Yasmani Grandal starts behind the plate.
Aug 3 2024McCutchen was removed from Saturday's contest against the Diamondbacks with left quadriceps tightness. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen secured a leadoff single off Slade Cecconi to open the bottom of the sixth inning, promptly being removed for Ji Hwan Bae as a pinch runner. McCutchen likely tweaked his quad running to first base and the team said he was removed from the contest out of precaution. The 37-year-old finished his night 1-for-3 from the plate and can be considered day-to-day ahead of Sunday's series finale.
Jul 29 2024McCutchen isn't in the starting lineup for the Pirates' series opener against the Astros on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will retreat to the bench Monday while Joey Bart serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth against Houston right-hander Jake Bloss. McCutchen has been in the midst of quiet July, having slashed .197/.307/.355 with two home runs and four RBI across 80 plate appearances on the month.
Jul 14 2024McCutchen (hamstring) will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will return to the lineup after he was removed in the ninth inning of Saturday's 6-2 win with what the Pirates labeled as left hamstring discomfort. Even though the Pirates could have kept McCutchen out of the lineup in their final game before the All-Star break to give the veteran some extended time to rest up, he'll be ready to go Sunday, which suggests his removal from Saturday's contest was precautionary.
Jul 13 2024McCutchen was removed from Saturday's game against the White Sox due to left hamstring discomfort. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had gone 2-for-4 with a run scored before his hamstring forced him out of Saturday's game in the ninth inning. The Pirates have officially labeled him as day-to-day, and he may sit out Sunday's game in order to get some extra rest heading into the All-Star break.
Jul 9 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Tuesday's game versus Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 1-for-10 with five strikeouts during Pittsburgh's last series against the Mets, McCutchen will get a breather for Tuesday's series opener. His absence will move Bryan Reynolds into the DH spot while Jack Suwinski, Michael Taylor and Joshua Palacios start across the outfield.
Jul 5 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get his first day off since June 13, handing DH duties over to Bryan Reynolds while Joshua Palacios leads off. McCutchen is 2-for-19 with eight strikeouts over his last five games. However, both hits went for extra bases.
Jul 3 2024McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has cooled considerably since mid-June, as he's hitting only .154 across his last 11 games. However, he managed his 12th homer of the season and second in his last five starts Tuesday, continuing a surprising resurgence of power. His ISO is currently .169, McCutchen's highest mark since the 2021 season.
Jun 26 2024McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His fifth-inning shot off Graham Ashcraft gave the 37-year-old designated hitter his third homer in the last 12 games, and his 11th of the campaign. McCutchen only slugged 12 home runs in 112 games last year and hasn't reached 20 long balls in a season since 2021, but it appears he still has some pop left in the tank. On the season, he's slashing .238/.338/.405 over 67 contests with 24 RBI and 42 runs.
Jun 21 2024McCutchen indicated earlier this week that he plans to continue his playing career after this season, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "In my mind, this isn't my last year," McCutchen said. McCutchen will turn 38 in October and is basically a full-time designated hitter at this point. He's been productive this season, however, particularly since being moved into the Pirates' leadoff spot, where he's slashed .273/.359/.459 with nine homers in 195 plate appearances. Mackey writes that he was told by owner Bob Nutting last season that McCutchen "will remain a Pirate for as long as he wants," so it would seem the team would be amendable to a new deal after this season.
Jun 14 2024McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Friday's 5-2 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen crushed a mammoth 448-foot solo homer of Ryan Feltner in the sixth inning to give the Pirates a lead they never relinquished. The 37-year-old veteran later tallied another run to his register when a Bryan Reynolds single drove him home in the eighth. McCutchen has been a steady producer over the last 30 days, hitting .297 (28-for-94) with five homers, 19 runs scored and 12 RBI in 22 games.
Jun 13 2024McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates are giving Bryan Reynolds a start in the designated-hitter slot while Jack Suwinski plays left field and Michael Taylor handles center field. McCutchen has struggled in his career against the Cardinals' starting pitcher for Thursday's game, Lance Lynn, going 13-for-57 with a 21:1 K:BB.
Jun 7 2024McCutchen is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first day off in three weeks for McCutchen. The 37-year-old will yield designated hitter duties Friday to Henry Davis.
May 29 2024McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a walk, a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI in a 10-2 win over the Tigers during the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the opener as the Pirates lost 8-0, McCutchen roared to life in the second contest, taking Keider Montero deep in the third inning for a three-run shot that got Pittsburgh on the board. The 37-year-old has eight homers on the season, but four of them have come in his last 12 games -- a stretch in which McCutchen is batting .333 (16-for-48) with nine RBI and 10 runs.
May 16 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Thursday versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen gets to have some rest after going 8-for-20 in the past 5 games. The 37-year-old went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to Milwaukee. Bryan Reynolds has the start as the designated hitter and Edward Olivares enters the lineup as the right fielder, batting cleanup.
May 15 2024McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 10-2 loss to Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen provided a bright spot in an otherwise rough day for the Pirates. The 37-year-old veteran has been swinging the bat well, going 8-for-20 with a pair of homers in his last five games. McCutchen's now slashing .211/.317/.358 with five homers, 18 runs scored, 10 RBI and a stolen base through 34 games this season.
May 12 2024McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Saturday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen entered the game with just four hits across his last 43 at-bats while striking out at a 27.5 percent clip. He came through with a clutch home run to lead off the sixth frame of Saturday's contest, his fourth time leaving the yard on the season. McCutchen has a .288 wOBA and 84 wRC+ across 124 total plate appearances on the campaign, though he continues to serve as Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter.
May 12 2024McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Saturday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen entered the game with just four hits across his last 43 at-bats while striking out at a 27.5 percent clip. He came through with a clutch home run to lead off the sixth frame of Saturday's contest, his fourth time leaving the yard for the season. McCutchen has a .288 wOBA and 84 wRC+ across 124 total plate appearances on the campaign, though he continues to serve as Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter.
May 5 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting both of the past two games while going 1-for-8 at the dish, McCutchen appears to be getting a breather for Sunday's afternoon contest. With McCutchen on the bench, Edward Olivares will enter the lineup as the Pirates' designated hitter.
May 1 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen looks to be getting a veteran's rest day as the Pirates and Athletics wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. With McCutchen on the bench, Bryan Reynolds will get a day off in the outfield and will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter.
Apr 28 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the previous three games and will head to the bench after going 1-for-12 with two walks and five strikeouts. Edward Olivares will bat fifth as the designated hitter Sunday for the Pirates.
Apr 24 2024McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone deep in back-to-back contests, but he'll receive a day of rest Wednesday. Bryan Reynolds will get a turn as the Pirates' designated hitter, while Connor Joe and Edward Olivares will occupy the outfield corners.
Apr 22 2024McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's win over Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen received his first start in the leadoff spot Monday night and made the most of it. He opened with a 414-foot home run off Joe Ross, spurring the Pirates to victory. The 37-year-old added two singles later in the game for his first three-hit effort of the season. McCutchen has started 10 of the last 13 games, batting .231 (9-for-39) with two homers, seven runs and four RBI.
Apr 17 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had started each of the previous three contests while going 4-for-12 with a home run, three RBI, three additional runs and a stolen base, but he'll get a breather as the Pirates and Mets wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. Bryan Reynolds will get a day off out of the outfield and serve as the Pirates' designated hitter while McCutchen rests.
Apr 14 2024McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, two additional runs scored and a stolen base during Sunday's 9-2 win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen notched his first homer of 2024 on Sunday, plating Ke'Bryan Hayes as part of a two-run knock off Ricardo Pinto in the ninth inning. The long ball was the 300th of McCutchen's storied MLB career, and he became the 160th player to reach the milestone. McCutchen has gotten out of the gates slowly in year 16, slashing .194/.326/.333 with a 37.2 percent strikeout rate through nine games.
Apr 13 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's matchup versus Philadelphia. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone hitless through seven at-bats and struck out four times in the first two games of Pittsburgh's series with the Phillies, so he'll get a day to regroup Saturday. Edward Olivares will assume DH duties and bat fifth while the 37-year-old veteran rests.
Apr 7 2024McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the second straight day on the bench for McCutchen, who is 3-for-20 with four walks and 11 strikeouts through his first five games of the season. Edward Olivares will bat seventh as the designated hitter.
Apr 6 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's game versus Baltimore, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a breather after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts during Friday's series opener. His absence will allow Edward Olivares to serve as Pittsburgh's DH while batting fifth.
Apr 4 2024McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He will yield to Connor Joe at designated hitter against right-hander Josiah Gray. McCutchen is 3-for-16 with a 9:4 K:BB across his first 21 plate appearances this season.
Apr 2 2024McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a walk Monday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen struck out in five of his first nine plate appearances of the season and was out of the lineup both Saturday and Sunday. He returned to bat fourth Monday and struck out two additional times, though he also managed his first hits of the new campaign -- including a key RBI knock in the eighth inning. The Pirates' lineup is deeper than last season when McCutchen was a regular, but he'll likely get plenty of time to get his bat up to speed.
Mar 31 2024McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went 0-for-9 with two walks, an RBI and five strikeouts in the first two games of the season but finds himself on the bench Sunday for the second straight contest. Bryan Reynolds will rest his legs as the designated hitter with Edward Olivares and Connor Joe starting in the corner outfield spots.
Mar 30 2024McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Saturday's contest against Miami, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a breather Saturday despite the Marlins sending the left-handed Ryan Weathers to start on the mound. The 37-year-old is 0-for-9 to begin the season, and his absence will give Edward Olivares a chance to start at DH and bat fourth.
Mar 16 2024McCutchen (illness) is starting as Pittsburgh's designated hitter Saturday against the Tigers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup because of his illness, but he appears to have recovered in time for Saturday's game. McCutchen has played in just two games this spring, recording two hits in five at-bats, including a home run.
Mar 14 2024McCutchen was scratched from the Pirates' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday due to illness, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger should be ready to rejoin the lineup in a day or two. Billy McKinney entered the starting nine at designated hitter in McCutchen's place.
Mar 5 2024McCutchen (Achilles) will make his spring debut Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran has been slow-played this spring after a partial tear of his left Achilles' tendon ended his 2023 season. McCutchen said that he thinks his modified program in camp has helped get his body into a great spot. While he's not the player he once was, McCutchen showed early on last year that he still has something in the tank, posting an .823 OPS over the first two months.
Mar 1 2024McCutchen (Achilles) took swings and participated in defensive drills Friday, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is coming off a partial Achilles tear and has yet to see action in Grapefruit League games, but it appears he's closing in on his spring debut. The 37-year-old re-signed with the Pirates after he posted a .775 OPS in 112 games last season and is poised to serve as the club's primary designated hitter in 2024.
Dec 19 2023Pittsburgh re-signed McCutchen (Achilles) to a one-year, $5 million contract Tuesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen missed the final month of the 2023 campaign due to a partial tear of his left Achilles tendon, but he posted a respectable .776 OPS with 12 homers and 11 steals over 112 games for the Pirates when healthy. The 37-year-old will likely again serve as Pittsburgh's primary designated hitter in 2024, also possibly sprinkling in a bit of action in the corner outfield if his lower left leg cooperates. McCutchen is sitting on 299 career home runs as he enters his 16th major-league season.
Sep 19 2023McCutchen (Achilles) was transferred Tuesday from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is a procedural move to clear out a 40-man roster spot for the arrival of Kyle Nicolas. McCutchen suffered a partial tear of left his Achilles tendon earlier this month and had already been ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 campaign.
Sep 6 2023McCutchen was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a partial tear in his left Achilles, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will need to wear a walking boot for the next six weeks, so the injury effectively ends his season. It could also potentially spell the end of his Pirates career since he'll hit free agency this offseason, although 'Cutch has indicated a desire to come back for at least one more year. He's had a solid 2023 campaign, slashing .256/.378/.397 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases over 112 games. McCutchen has basically been a full-time designated hitter for the Pirates this season and the team now figures to rotate through multiple players in that spot in the final month.
Sep 5 2023McCutchen (Achilles) is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen made an early exit from Monday's series opener against Milwaukee due to tightness in his left Achilles tendon and is considered day-to-day. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter Tuesday as Josh Palacios, Jack Suwinski and Miguel Andujar start across the outfield.
Sep 4 2023McCutchen was removed from Monday's game against the Brewers due to left Achilles tendon tightness. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team notes that McCutchen was removed simply as a precaution, so he'll be considered day-to-day moving forward. Miguel Andujar was called upon to pinch hit with McCutchen exiting early.
Sep 1 2023McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a breather Friday after going just 1-for-20 across his last six games. Endy Rodriguez will fill in as Pittsburgh's designated hitter, allowing Jason Delay to start behind the plate.
Aug 27 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup Sunday versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bryan Reynolds will take a turn as the Pirates' designated hitter with Josh Palacios, Jack Suwinski and Connor Joe starting across the outfield. McCutchen remains one home run away from reaching 300 for his career.
Aug 24 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will grab some rest after going 3-for-4 with three doubles and a walk in Wednesday's series finale versus the Cardinals. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter Thursday as Josh Palacios, Ji Hwan Bae and Connor Joe start across the outfield.
Aug 20 2023McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run and five RBI in Saturday's 7-4 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen delivered a pair of big hits, including a two-run double in the sixth inning and a three-run home run three frames later. The long ball was his first since June 30, a span of 27 games. Powered primarily by a hot start to the season, McCutchen has a 114 wRC+ and .342 wOBA across 419 plate appearances on the campaign.
Aug 18 2023McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup Friday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone 0-for-12 at the plate across his last four games, so he'll get a break Friday in order to regroup. Bryan Reynolds will take over as Pittsburgh's designated hitter and Ji Hwan Bae will move to the outfield in McCutchen's absence, allowing Liover Peguero to start at second base while batting seventh.
Aug 14 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup Monday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bryan Reynolds is taking a turn as the Pirates' designated hitter as Connor Joe, Jack Suwinski and Henry Davis start across the outfield. McCutchen played both halves of Sunday's doubleheader against the Reds and went 0-for-7 with two walks and two strikeouts.
Aug 10 2023McCutchen is absent from the lineup for Thursday's game against Atlanta, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It looks to be a routine day off for the veteran. Bryan Reynolds is getting a start in the designated hitter spot, with Josh Palacios handling left field.
Aug 6 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will be resting for the second time this weekend while the Pirates and Brewers wrap up their four-game set with a day game after a night game. Connor Joe will get the starting nod at designated hitter in place of McCutchen, who is hitting .220 with no home runs and one stolen base in 15 games since the All-Star break.
Aug 4 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going hitless in his final three games of July, McCutchen has collected five hits in his first three games of August. The 36-year-old will get what looks like a routine breather as Bryan Reynolds takes a turn as the designated hitter. Josh Palacios will start in left field and bat leadoff against right-hander Colin Rea.
Jul 26 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates are concluding their series in San Diego with a day game after a night game, so McCutchen will head to the bench in what appears to be a veteran rest day. With McCutchen out of the lineup, Ji-Man Choi will pick up a start at first base while Carlos Santana serves as the Bucs' designated hitter.
Jul 24 2023McCutchen went 1-for-3 with two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Monday's 8-4 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's steal was his 10th of the season, his most thefts since 2018. The 36-year-old has hit safely in six of his seven games since the All-Star break, going 6-for-23 (.261) with five walks in that span. He's slashing .268/.384/.415 with 10 home runs, 28 RBI and 43 runs scored over 81 contests. With Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi competing for first base, McCutchen doesn't have a hold on an everyday role at designated hitter.
Jul 21 2023McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Friday versus the Angels, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will sit for a second straight game Friday after he went 2-for-8 with a double and a strikeout over the first two games of the team's series with Cleveland. Ji-Man Choi will take over at designated hitter and bat cleanup in the series opener with Los Angeles.
Jul 19 2023McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Guardians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will take a seat after he went 2-for-8 with a double and a strikeout over the first two games of the series. Carlos Santana will slot in at designated hitter while Ji-Man Choi starts at first base and bats cleanup in the series finale with Cleveland.
Jul 16 2023The Pirates activated McCutchen from the 10-day injured list Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran will return after taking some time off to manage right elbow discomfort -- something he's been battling since at least mid-June. McCutchen, in the midst of a resurgent campaign (.808 OPS), will slot back into his customary No. 3 spot in the lineup against lefty Alex Wood and the Giants on Sunday. Rodolfo Castro was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move.
Jul 14 2023McCutchen (elbow) said he expects to be activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen landed on the injured list July 7 with right elbow discomfort and seems to be trending toward a minimum stay. The 36-year-old veteran holds an .808 OPS through 316 plate appearances this season and could prove to be a valuable asset for Pittsburgh as the trade deadline approaches.
Jul 7 2023Pittsburgh placed McCutchen on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 6, with right elbow discomfort. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen missed a few games in late June due to right elbow soreness and it seems to have carried over into July, as he'd gone 0-for-17 with two walks and six strikeouts over his last four games. The veteran is eligible to return July 16 -- the Sunday after the All-Star break -- and could be an important trade chip for the Pirates if he's able to carry a clean bill of health into the August 1 trade deadline.
Jul 6 2023McCutchen is not in Thursday's lineup against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will sit for the second time in the last four games amid a 17 at-bat hitless stretch. Carlos Santana will hit fourth and serve as the designated hitter while Connor Joe will enter the lineup to play first base and hit fifth.
Jul 4 2023McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday versus the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen sat out of Monday's series opener after going 0-for-8 with two strikeouts in the final two games of the Pirates' three-game weekend set against the Brewers. He is serving as Pittsburgh's designated hitter and leadoff man Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Jul 3 2023McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will take a seat after he went 3-for-13 with a homer, a double, three RBI and three strikeouts over the three-game series with Milwaukee. Bryan Reynolds will slot in at designated hitter while Josh Palacios enters the lineup in left field and bats leadoff versus Los Angeles.
Jul 1 2023McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and three RBI in Friday's 8-7 win over the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates' two greybeards carried the offense on the night, as the 36-year-old Cutch and the 37-year-old Carlos Santana combined for six of the team's 11 hits, five of its six extra-base hits and drove in five of Pittsburgh's eight runs. McCutchen closed out June on a massive heater, going 14-for-29 (.483) over a seven-game hitting streak, but Friday's long ball off Freddy Peralta was his first since June 14 and his 10th of the season.
Jun 24 2023McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases Friday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been out of the lineup three times in the last six games as he's nursed an elbow injury. He was productive on Friday, however, managing his first stolen base since June 2 and ninth of the campaign. After a very hot start to the season, McCutchen has only a .692 OPS across 47 at-bats in June.
Jun 22 2023McCutchen (elbow) is batting second Thursday against Miami as the Pirates' designated hitter. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After missing Pittsburgh's last two games, McCutchen's elbow soreness has subsided and he will re-enter the lineup Thursday. The veteran outfielder is 4-for-16 with a home run and five walks across his last five games.
Jun 21 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cubs due to a sore right elbow, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Derek Shelton downplayed concern about the injury, noting that McCutchen is day-to-day and is just receiving an additional game off to manage the elbow issue. With McCutchen sitting for the second straight contest, rookie Henry Davis will get another look as the Pirates' designated hitter.
Jun 20 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Henry Davis will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and bat fifth versus the Cubs and right-hander Marcus Stroman. Josh Palacios, Jack Suwinski and Connor Joe are starting across the outfield. This looks to be a routine day off for McCutchen, who singled and drew two walks in Monday's series opener.
Jun 18 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has a .211/.415/.289 slash line through 38 at-bats in June and will head to the bench Sunday after starting the previous four games. Bryan Reynolds will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Josh Palacios receives a start in the outfield.
Jun 15 2023McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 10-6 loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen led the game off with a home run, his first in his last 13 starts. In that span, he's earned 14 free passes while striking out only 10 times, but that's resulted in just three RBI and six runs scored. McCutchen continues to serve as the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter, though he's split the role with Tucupita Marcano against righties.
Jun 13 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This appears to be a planned day of rest for the 36-year-old McCutchen. Bryan Reynolds is taking a turn as the Pirates' designated hitter while Connor Joe, Jack Suwinski and Josh Palacios start across the outfield.
Jun 6 2023McCutchen went 0-for-1 with three walks and two RBI on Monday against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was an unusual -- yet productive -- line for McCutchen, as he drew a bases-loaded walk and hit a sacrifice fly to tally his two RBI. He's now reached based multiple times in five consecutive games, during which he's drawn six free passes combined with six hits. His combination of a .373 on-base percentage and .442 slugging percentage across 217 plate appearances this season gives him his highest OPS since the 2019 campaign.
Jun 4 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the series finale beginning at 11:35 a.m. ET, the 36-year-old McCutchen is on the bench in what most likely amounts to a veteran's day off. Bryan Reynolds will get a day out of the outfield and replace McCutchen as the Bucs' designated hitter.
Jun 1 2023McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a walk, an RBI double, two runs scored and one steal in Wednesday's 9-4 victory over San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen recorded his fourth three-hit game of the season and continues to shine during his return to Pittsburgh. The veteran is slashing .273/.369/.453 over his first 49 games of his age-36 season, which would all be his highest marks since his last campaign with the Pirates in 2017. McCutchen will periodically take a day off to stay fresh, but he's locked into the top of the order when available and remains a versatile threat at the plate.
May 27 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This looks like a routine breather for McCutchen, who has been getting Saturdays off in recent weeks, presumably as part of the Pirates' maintenance plan for the 36-year-old. McCutchen is in the midst of a resurgent year -- he's up to eight homers after Friday's long ball to go with a .269/.364/.462 line -- and the team wants him available for the long haul. Tucupita Marcano will get a turn in the leadoff spot against right-hander Luis Castillo with McCutchen on the bench.
May 26 2023McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 11-6 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games, going 17-for-49 (.347) over that span. He led off Friday's contest with a solo shot, his second homer in that 12-game span. The veteran has done well in a near-everyday role with a .269/.364/.462 slash line, eight long balls, 20 RBI, 25 runs scored and five stolen bases through 44 contests. He's started seven straight games as the leadoff hitter.
May 16 2023McCutchen is in the DH spot and hitting leadoff Tuesday versus the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This marks McCutchen's second straight start out of the leadoff spot. He's up to a .357 on-base percentage and .823 OPS through 143 plate appearances on the year. Ke'Bryan Hayes is hitting fifth Tuesday for Pittsburgh.
May 13 2023McCutchen will sit Saturday against the Orioles, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been managed carefully by the Pirates this season, spending most of his time as the designated hitter while getting frequent off days. The plan seems to be working, as he's hitting .248/.362/.478. His .840 OPS is his best mark since 2017, the final year of his previous stint in Pittsburgh. Miguel Andujar will be the designated hitter in his absence.
May 10 2023McCutchen went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen extended Pittsburgh's lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a two-run shot off Antonio Senzatela, his seventh home run of the year. Following a 1-for-19 stretch, the 36-year-old McCutchen has gone 4-for-6 with three RBI in his last two contests. He's slashing .255/.366/.491 with 18 RBI and 17 runs scored through 134 plate appearances this season.
May 9 2023McCutchen went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk Tuesday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was the lone bright spot for the Pirates as he delivered an RBI single in the third frame -- accounting for the team's only run. He returned from a three-contest absence caused by an ankle injury Monday and has gone 1-for-6 across two starts while serving as the designated hitter on both occasions. Overall, McCutchen has maintained a .234/.346/.449 line with six home runs, 16 runs scored and 16 RBI in 130 plate appearances on the season.
May 8 2023McCutchen (ankle) is starting at designated hitter and batting third Monday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is back in the lineup after missing three games with an ankle issue. The 36-year-old has cooled off greatly in recent weeks, batting .140 with two homers, six RBI, six runs scored and 15 strikeouts over 43 at-bats in 12 games since April 20.
May 7 2023McCutchen (ankle) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was scratched from Friday's starting nine due to a sprained left ankle, and he'll sit Sunday for the third consecutive game. It's unclear if the veteran slugger will be available off the bench. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter while Miguel Andujar receives a start in the outfield.
May 6 2023McCutchen (ankle) is not in Saturday's lineup against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was scratched from Friday's lineup due to a left ankle sprain. Carlos Santana will start at designated hitter while Connor Joe gets the nod at first base. McCutchen is not available off the bench, per Justice delos Santos of MLB.com, as he is still receiving treatment.
May 5 2023McCutchen was scratched from Friday's lineup due to a left ankle sprain. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The severity of McCutchen's injury is yet to be determined, but it's apparently enough to keep him from Friday's contest against Toronto. Mark Mathias will take over as Pittsburgh's DH and bat eighth.
Apr 30 2023McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the past six games and will receive Sudnay off after he went 5-for-24 with a double, a home run, five RBI, four runs and a stolen base during that span. Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter while Miguel Andujar receives a start in the outfield.
Apr 28 2023McCutchen went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a steal in Thursday's 6-2 win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is already halfway to his total of eight stolen bases in 134 games last season. The veteran outfielder has hit safely in four straight games, going 4-for-16 with a home run and four RBI in that span. McCutchen has gotten off to a nice start in his return to Pittsburgh. He's now slashing .272/.371/.506 with five homers, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored through 97 plate appearances this season.
Apr 5 2023McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-1 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder has had a bit of a slow start at the plate to begin his second tour of duty with the Pirates, going 4-for-15 (.267) through six games with his only extra-base hit being a double, but he's drawn seven walks and stole his first base of the year Wednesday. McCutchen hasn't swiped double-digit bags since 2018, but the 36-year-old still boasted a sprint speed in the 90th percentile last year according to Statcast. If he keeps getting on base at a good clip, he could be one of the players who benefits most from MLB's rule changes to boost the running game.
Apr 3 2023McCutchen is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a breather for the first time in the young 2023 campaign after he started all three games of the Pirates' season-opening series versus the Reds, going a collective 2-for-8 with a double, five walks, a run and an RBI. Ji Man Choi will spell him Monday as the Pirates' designated hitter.
Mar 16 2023McCutchen was sidelined Thursday in Pirates camp due to minor right elbow soreness, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not believed to be anything serious, but Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the team will "take it very slow with Andrew." He'll probably spend the weekend getting rest and treatment before a reevaluation of the situation early next week.
Mar 7 2023McCutchen (hand) will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen exited early in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Twins due to hand soreness, but as anticipated, his removal from that contest proved to be merely a precaution. At least at the start of the season, the 36-year-old should handle a near-everyday role as he opens his second stint in Pittsburgh, with McCutchen expected to move between the corner outfield and designated hitter.
Mar 6 2023McCutchen's (hand) removal from the Pirates' game on Sunday was precautionary and he's expected to be fine, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was lifted from the game against the Twins after being hit by a pitch, but it sounds like he probably could've remained in had it been a regular-season contest. The veteran outfield is expected to open 2023 as the Pirates' starting right fielder.
Jan 13 2023McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Well, isn't that fun? McCutchen reached superstardom in Pittsburgh, winning the National League MVP award in 2013 and finishing in the top five in voting four straight years. He's 36 now and coming off a career-low .700 OPS, but he nonetheless instantly becomes one of the Pirates' better hitters and provides some leadership. This should also offer him a chance to play every day, an opportunity he wouldn't necessarily have received elsewhere.
Oct 5 2022McCutchen isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went 1-for-7 with six walks and four strikeouts over his last three matchups, and he'll be on the bench for a second consecutive game to close out the regular season. Christian Yelich will serve as the designated hitter while Keston Hiura starts in left field.
Sep 30 2022McCutchen isn't in the lineup Friday against Miami. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is getting a day off after he went 2-for-8 with a walk and four strikeouts over the last two games. Keston Hiura will take over as the designated hitter and bat sixth.
Sep 27 2022McCutchen isn't starting Tuesday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 2-for-16 in the last series against Cincinnati, McCutchen will step aside Tuesday in order to let Keston Hiura serve as the Brewers' designated hitter. Hiura will bat sixth in the order.
Sep 21 2022McCutchen isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the last two games and went 3-for-6 with a double, a run, an RBI, two walks and two strikeouts. He'll get a breather while Christian Yelich serves as the designated hitter and leads off.
Sep 18 2022McCutchen is not in the lineup Sunday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the past nine games for Milwaukee but will head to the bench Sunday amid an 0-for-13 slump. Rowdy Tellez will serve as the designated hitter while Keston Hiura starts at first base.
Sep 13 2022McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and three total RBI in Tuesday's 8-4 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead in the top of the first and put them ahead for good with a two-run blast in the fifth. While he's batting just .227 (5-for-22) across his last six games, he's gone yard three times in that span, knocking in six runs. The veteran outfielder is up to a .244/.312/.400 slash line with 17 homers, 65 RBI, 63 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 120 contests overall.
Sep 10 2022McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen added some insurance with an eighth-inning blast. The 35-year-old has gone yard twice in eight games in September while adding three multi-hit efforts. He's maintained a .244/.312/.394 slash line with 16 homers, 62 RBI, 62 runs scored and eight stolen bases through 118 contests in a near-everyday role, though he's already been out of the starting lineup four times in 11 games this month.
Sep 8 2022McCutchen isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started Thursday's matinee and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout. Rowdy Tellez will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth during the second game of the twin bill.
Sep 6 2022McCutchen is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has spent most of the season as a regular, but the veteran has been a part-time player of late, as he will open on the bench Tuesday for the fifth time in 10 games. He will likely be in the lineup whenever a lefty starts for the opponent, but as things stand he is not a lock to play every day.
Sep 4 2022McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game in Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen looks to be receiving a veteran's day off after he went 2-for-6 with an RBI while playing all 10 innings of Saturday's 8-6 win. Keston Hiura will serve as the Brewers' designated hitter in place of McCutchen.
Sep 1 2022McCutchen isn't starting Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone 1-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts over his last two matchups but will be on the bench for the third time in the last five games. Rowdy Tellez will serve as the designated hitter and bat third Thursday.
Aug 28 2022McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Keston Hiura getting a look as the Brewers' designated hitter Sunday, McCutchen will retreat to the bench for the afternoon game. Since blasting three home runs over a two-game stretch Aug. 18 and 19, McCutchen has gone 4-for-29 with no extra-base hits over his subsequent seven starts.
Aug 18 2022McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored Thursday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen took Andrew Heaney yard on both occasions, bringing his homer total on the campaign to 13. Entering Thursday's game, McCutchen had just two homers and a .232 average across 22 games since the All-Star break. For the season, he owns a .253/.322/.406 line across 438 plate appearances.
Aug 17 2022McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is getting a rare day off after he hit .222 with two doubles, five runs, two RBI, two walks and six strikeouts over the last seven games. Keston Hiura will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.
Aug 7 2022McCutchen is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the past 23 games and will receive Sunday off after posting an .822 OPS with four home runs, 16 RBI, 14 runs and three stolen bases during that stretch. Keston Hiura will bat sixth as the designated hitter Sunday for Milwaukee.
Aug 6 2022McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two walks in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen produced the Brewers' first and last runs in the game with a solo shot in the fourth and a sacrifice fly in the ninth. He's cooled off a bit since the All-Star break, going 13-for-54 (.241), though he's added two homers, seven RBI, eight runs scored and two stolen bases. The 35-year-old has enjoyed a productive campaign with a .253/.324/.397 slash line, 11 long balls, 48 RBI, 47 runs scored, eight steals and 19 doubles through 404 plate appearances, though that .721 OPS stands the lowest in his career.
Aug 4 2022McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two doubles and a stolen base in an 8-7 loss to the Pirates on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen ripped a pair of doubles out of the cleanup spot against his former team. He now has 19 doubles on the year and six over the last 15 days. McCutchen also picked up his eighth steal of the season by swiping third off Chase De Jong. The 35-year-old center fielder isn't elite in any category anymore, but he still combines a fair mix of pop and speed while hitting in the heart of the Brewers lineup.
Jul 31 2022McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a walk, a stolen base and a run Saturday in the Brewers' 9-4 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen opened his big-league career with five straight 20-plus-steal seasons, but the running game isn't as significant of a part of his skill set in his age-35 campaign. Even so, McCutchen hasn't been entirely inactive on the bases, as his steal Saturday was his seventh of the season (in 12 attempts). He'll be back in action for Sunday's series finale, serving as Milwaukee's designated hitter while batting cleanup.
Jul 25 2022McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI in Sunday's victory over the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen endured a 1-for-40 slump earlier in the season, but since snapping out of that skid he has gone 47-for-152 (.309) with seven home runs, nine doubles and 26 RBI over a 39-game span. With McCutchen on a roll, he is regularly occupying the cleanup spot against right-handers and hitting either third or leadoff against southpaws.
Jul 9 2022McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in a 4-3 win over the Pirates on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen made two stolen base attempts in the game and was caught stealing once. He now has six stolen bases in 11 attempts for a 54.5 percent stolen base success rate. The 35-year-old veteran may not be given the green light to run very much in the future if he is unable to steal more efficiently. After his two-hit game, McCutchen is slashing .254/.321/.375 over 69 games this season.
Jul 6 2022McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is getting a day off after he went 0-for-12 with a walk and three strikeouts over the last three games. Christian Yelich will serve as the designated hitter while Keston Hiura draws the start in left field.
Jun 26 2022McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's victory over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen sent Willy Adames home on a second inning home run Saturday. The hit extended his hitting streak to four games, two of which have been two-hit games. The veteran is slashing .320/.420/.480 in June and has raised his season batting average to .249 after he started the month with a .214 average.
Jun 22 2022McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two total RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had gone 0-for-6 with two walks in his last two games, but he was able to add some hits Wednesday. He went yard in the fourth inning and knocked in another run with a ground rule double in the fifth. He's now posted six multi-hit efforts in 18 games in June. Overall, the veteran is slashing .242/.309/.352 with five homers, 27 RBI, 26 runs scored, five stolen bases and nine doubles through 56 contests.
Jun 18 2022McCutchen isn't starting Saturday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a rare day off after he went 4-for-9 with three runs, an RBI, three walks and a strikeout over the last three games. Christian Yelich will serve as the designated hitter while Jonathan Davis enters the lineup in center field.
Jun 10 2022McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, two stolen bases and a strikeout in Friday's 11-5 loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Brewers struggled once again Friday during their seventh consecutive loss, but McCutchen was a bright spot in the team's offense. He didn't have any extra-base hits but showcased his speed with two steals. The 35-year-old has been effective during Milwaukee's losing streak, hitting .346 with a double, four RBI, two runs and two steals over the last seven games.
Jun 5 2022McCutchen went 3-for-5 with an RBI in Sunday's 6-4 extra-inning loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen provided an RBI single in the 10th inning, but the Brewers weren't able to turn that into a rally. The 35-year-old outfielder had gone just 1-for-38 in his previous nine games before breaking out of the slump Sunday. That poor stretch has dropped his slash line to .216/.265/.304 with three home runs, 20 RBI, 16 runs scored, three stolen bases and six doubles through 185 plate appearances this year.
Jun 1 2022McCutchen is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is mired in an 0-for-26 slump and will receive a day off to reset. Keston Hiura will bat fifth as the designated hitter Wednesday in his place.
May 30 2022McCutchen will get a breather in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 35-year-old will be on the bench for the first time since returning from the COVID-19 injured list May 20, batting .231 with a homer, three RBI and four runs over nine contests. Keston Hiura is starting at designated hitter and will bat seventh in the first game Monday.
May 21 2022McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double in a 5-1 victory over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Playing in his second game since returning from the COVID-19 injured list, McCutchen got Milwaukee on the board with a solo home run off Patrick Corbin to lead off the bottom of the first, singled in the sixth and doubled in the eighth. The long ball is the veteran outfielder's third and he's put together a strong May with a .307/.357/.500 slash line through six games after a sluggish April.
May 20 2022McCutchen (illness) was activated from the COVID-19 injured list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been sidelined the past two weeks after testing positive for the virus, but he'll rejoin Milwaukee's active roster ahead of Friday's matchup with Washington. The 35-year-old has a .240/.291/.350 slash line with two home runs, 14 RBI, 11 runs and three stolen bases in 110 plate appearances this year.
May 17 2022McCutchen (illness) won't be activated from the COVID-19 injured list for Wednesday's series finale versus Atlanta, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder was scheduled for a full workout Tuesday, and the team apparently wants to give him a couple more days to keep ramping up before rejoining the active roster. McCutchen is now expected to be activated for Friday's series opener against the Nationals.
May 16 2022McCutchen is expected to get back up to speed quickly once he's activated from the COVID-19 injured list, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been on the IL since May 7, but manager Craig Counsell expects him to be back in action for the Brewers shortly after he's cleared to return. "It'll be a quick ramp-up," said Counsell. "This is not a long process for him to get back ready but we have to get him back in the building." The former MVP was hitting .240 with two homers, 14 RBI, three stolen bases and 11 runs scored through 25 games prior to landing on the injured list.
May 7 2022McCutchen was placed on the COVID-19 injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While it's not yet clear whether McCutchen has tested positive for COVID-19, he'll need to isolate from the team until he clears the league's protocols. Mike Brosseau was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to provide additional depth, while Tyrone Taylor should see an uptick in playing time with McCutchen sidelined.
May 5 2022McCutchen is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be one of three veterans sitting out in Thursday's series finale after starting in Wednesday's 18-4 win. McCutchen, who went 4-for-5 with a double, a walk, four RBI and two runs in the trouncing of Cincinnati, will be replaced at designated hitter by Keston Hiura.
May 4 2022McCutchen went 4-for-5 with a double, four RBI and two runs in the 18-4 win over the Reds on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen ripped an RBI single off Vladimir Gutierrez in the bottom of the first inning before adding another single in the third frame and coming around to score on a Rowdy Tellez grand slam. The 35-year-old later walked and scored on Tellez's second long ball of the contest in the sixth and doubled in two runs in the seventh. He notched his fourth hit on an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring Lorenzo Cain and reaching four RBI on the day. McCutchen has operated as the Brewers' primary designated hitter in 2022, producing a .242 batting average with two homers and 14 RBI over 95 at-bats in 24 games.
Apr 30 2022McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-1 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He launched his second homer of the season -- and second in as many games -- in the third inning off Kyle Hendricks, one of six Milwaukee long balls on the night. McCutchen hasn't been able to really get hot yet for the Brewers, but he's consistently hitting cleanup against RHP and leadoff against LHP, and his mediocre .247/.302/.377 slash line has still led to three steals, seven runs and 10 RBI.
Apr 26 2022McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He wasn't a big part of the Brewers' 12-run offensive outburst, and he was caught stealing on one of his attempts. At least he was successful on the other, giving him three steals on the year. McCutchen is still looking for his first home run with the Brewers.
Apr 20 2022McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Pirates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get his first off day of the season after going 0-for-5 with a run, two walks and three strikeouts in the last two games. Keston Hiura will serve as the designated hitter and bat seventh.
Apr 18 2022McCutchen went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a run and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though McCutchen has turned in nine seasons of double-digit steals during his career, none have come since 2018. That makes McCutchen's early involvement on the bases all the more surprising, as the 35-year-old has now nabbed steals in two straight games and has made three attempts overall through 10 games. McCutchen's willingness to run may be a byproduct of the Brewers' offensive struggles; Sunday's six-run effort was Milwaukee's top total through its first 10 games. Assuming the likes of Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe eventually begin to heat up and the Brewers are able to more easily manufacture runs, McCutchen may not be as inclined to go for steals, especially if he continues to stick as the club's cleanup hitter versus right-handed pitching.
Apr 13 2022McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 victory over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It took McCutchen five games to knock in his first runs with the Brewers, but the trio of them he picked up Tuesday were key to his team's victory. McCutchen is being put in position to help fantasy players, as he has hit cleanup in the three games in which a right-hander has started for the opponent and leadoff in the two games in which the Brewers have taken on a southpaw.
Mar 16 2022Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said Wednesday that McCutchen will see most of his starts at designated hitter in 2022, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Stearns comments came after the Brewers officially announced McCutchen's signing to a one-year, $8.5 million. According to Sammon, the Brewers aren't viewing McCutchen as an option in center field, though the five-time All-Star could fill in as a left or right fielder whenever projected starters Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe need a day off. McCutchen is coming off a 2021 campaign with the Phillies in which he slugged 27 home runs -- his best total since 2017 -- but a career-worst .222 average capped his overall fantasy utility.
Mar 14 2022McCutchen agreed to a contract with the Brewers on Monday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Philadelphia declined McCutchen's $15 million option for 2022 back in November, and the veteran outfielder will continue his career in Milwaukee. The Brewers already have an established outfield group with Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain, Hunter Renfroe and Tyrone Taylor, but the introduction of the designated hitter to the National League opens up some at-bats. McCutchen had a .778 OPS with 27 home runs and 80 RBI in 144 games last season, though he did most of that damage against left-handed pitching with a .293/.405/.622 slash line in 195 plate appearances.
Nov 3 2021The Phillies declined McCutchen's $15 million club option for the 2022 season, making him an unrestricted free agent, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The club option includes a $3 million buyout which Philadelphia will pay in order to secure the $12 million in savings. McCutchen appeared in 144 games during 2021 and hit .222/.334/.444 with 27 home runs, 24 doubles, 80 RBI, 78 runs and six stolen bases while posting the highest strikeout rate (23.0 percent) of his 13-year career.
Oct 3 2021McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-4 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen knotted the score at 3-3 with his 27th long ball of the season in the third inning and second in the last three games. The 34-year-old concludes a respectable 2021 campaign with a .222/.334/.444 slash line, 27 home runs, 78 runs and 80 RBI in 145 games.
Oct 1 2021McCutchen is not in the lineup Friday at Miami, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the last 12 games and will head to the bench Friday with the Phillies now eliminated from playoff contention. Odubel Herrera will shift to left field while Travis Jankowski mans center.
Sep 22 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder took reliever Eric Hanhold deep in the sixth inning, scoring Bryce Harper in the process. It was his 25th home run of the season, his highest number since 2017. The 35-year-old has now secured a hit in five of his last six contests, including five extra-base hits.
Sep 17 2021McCutchen is out of the lineup Friday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the past three games and will receive a day off after going 2-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs Thursday versus the Cubs. Matt Vierling will take over in left field and bat eighth.
Sep 16 2021McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBI on Thursday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen entered the game having collected only two hits in his last 17 plate appearances. However, he aided in a 17-run offensive outburst for Philadelphia and logged his first RBI since Sept. 6. For the season, McCutchen is hitting .220/.333/.436 with 24 home runs, 71 runs scored and 72 RBI across 520 plate appearances.
Sep 12 2021McCutchen will sit Sunday against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been cold at the plate for quite some time, hitting .170/.265/.340 over his last 30 games. Matt Vierling will take over in left field Sunday.
Sep 8 2021McCutchen isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will get a day off after he went 1-for-12 with a solo home run, a walk and three strikeouts across the last three games. Odubel Herrera will shift to left field while Travis Jankowski starts in center.
Sep 4 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Marlins on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's fourth-inning solo shot accounted for the first run of the game and looked like it would stand up until Miami put up three runs in the eighth frame to snatch the victory. The veteran outfielder has been on a hot streak of late, going 6-for-15 with a pair of homers and eight RBI over his past four games. Though he's long past the days of being a .300 hitter, McCutchen has shown that he still has pop in his bat with 23 long balls on the campaign -- his most since the 2017 season.
Aug 31 2021McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double, three RBI, two runs scored and a pair of walks during Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen took Patrick Corbin deep in the fourth inning to notch his 22nd long ball of the year. The 34-year-old, who has dealt with knee issues this season, has put together a .222/.339/..437 slash line across 117 games.
Aug 27 2021McCutchen is not starting for the second consecutive day Friday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has started just one game since last Sunday, and while he was able to pinch hit during Thursday's loss to Arizona, it remains possible that he's dealing with some sort of undisclosed issue. Odubel Herrera draws the start in left field as Travis Jankowski mans center field Friday.
Aug 26 2021McCutchen isn't starting Thursday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run scored Wednesday, but he'll be out of the lineup for the third time in the last four games. Odubel Herrera will start in left field while Travis Jankowski takes over in center.
Aug 24 2021McCutchen will sit Tuesday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was also absent from Sunday's lineup, so it's possible he's dealing with an unreported minor injury. Odubel Herrera slides to left field in his absence, with Travis Jankowski starting in center.
Aug 22 2021McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale in San Diego, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran gets a day off after going 0-for-5 with five strikeouts Saturday, lowering his average to .103 with 16 strikeouts in the last 10 games. Odubel Herrera is playing left field Sunday, with Travis Jankowski getting the start in center.
Aug 14 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He capped the scoring on the night by taking Sean Doolittle deep in the eighth inning. The homer was McCutchen's 21st of the season and first in four games since coming off the IL, but it actually extended a bit of a power surge that began before his knee became an issue towards the end of July. Over his last 10 games, the 34-year-old has only seven hits in 35 at-bats, but four of them have left the yard.
Aug 11 2021McCutchen (knee) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will return from the 10-day IL on his first day of eligibility after he recovered from left knee inflammation. He'll reclaim his job as the primary left fielder and will be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Aug 10 2021McCutchen (knee) could be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been on the IL with left knee inflammation since Aug. 2, but the outfielder has a chance to be reinstated when first eligible. Even if he's not quite ready to return Wednesday, the 34-year-old should be back in the lineup within the next few days.
Aug 2 2021McCutchen was placed on the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation Monday, retroactive to Aug. 1, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was slated to miss a second straight game Monday, but he'll land on the IL after he underwent an MRI on Sunday. The Phillies haven't said whether the outfielder will require more than 10 days on the shelf, but Brad Miller and Luke Williams could see increased playing time in his absence.
Aug 1 2021McCutchen (knee) underwent an MRI on Sunday, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen exited Saturday's loss to the Pirates with a left knee issue, and he was held out of the lineup Sunday. Manager Joe Girardi said that the team is still waiting on results from the outfielder's exam, and a timetable for his return isn't yet known.
Jul 31 2021McCutchen was removed from Saturday's loss to the Pirates with an unspecified knee injury, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before being pulled from the contest. The 34-year-old's availability for Sunday's series finale is up in the air, and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Phillies remain cautious and hold him out of the lineup, even if it's not a serious injury.
Jul 26 2021McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run, a double, a walk and two total runs scored in Monday's 6-5 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder came up clutch with a walkoff homer off Washington closer Brad Hand. This was McCutchen's third long ball in his last eight games and his 18th of the year. The 34-year-old has added 55 RBI, 52 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .237/.357/.458 slash line across 381 plate appearances as a near-everyday presence in the lineup.
Jul 22 2021McCutchen isn't in the lineup Thursday against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had recorded extra-base hits in each of the last three games with two home runs, two doubles, three RBI and two runs during that time. He'll get a breather as Odubel Herrera shifts to left field while Travis Jankowski starts in center.
Jul 21 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone yard in back-to-back games for the second time in 2021, with both instances coming during the current month. He's hitting just .222 across 45 at-bats this month but has four homers and 11 RBI in that stretch, and his 17 dingers on the year are his highest mark since 2018, when he socked 20 long balls across 155 games.
Jul 18 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and a walk in Sunday's 7-4 win over the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has reached base in each of the four games since returning from the All-Star break, and he hit his 16th home run of the season in Sunday's win. The 34-year-old has gone 2-for-7 with a home run, three RBI and four walks across four games to begin the second half of the year.
Jul 16 2021McCutchen will sit for the afternoon portion of Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies won't ask the 34-year-old to play two games in one day. He remained a useful player in the first half despite his age, hitting 15 homers and stealing six bases while slashing .228/.346/.434, good for a 113 wRC+. That low batting average hurts fantasy teams, but a .252 xBA indicates that things could improve in that category going forward. Brad Miller will be the left fielder in his absence.
Jul 8 2021McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday against the Cubs, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will take a seat for the first time since June 25, when he was on the bench for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Mets. He has a .856 OPS with two homers, two doubles, nine RBI, 11 runs and three stolen bases in the past 12 games. Travis Jankowski will work in left field for Thursday's series finale.
Jul 7 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen provided the majority of Philadelphia's offense for the evening with a two-run blast in the sixth inning. It was his 15th home run of the season and second in as many games. Though he's hitting only .233 on the campaign, McCutchen has a .351 on-base percentage and has scored 46 runs while driving in 48 across 79 contests.
Jul 6 2021McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a grand slam in Tuesday's 15-10 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's slam came in the first inning as the Phillies' offense got to Jake Arrieta quickly in the contest. In the seventh inning, McCutchen was replaced by Luke Williams in left field, likely to get the former some rest in his second game back from oblique soreness. The 34-year-old is up to 14 homers, 46 RBI, 45 runs scored, six stolen bases and a .792 OPS through 324 plate appearances.
Jul 5 2021McCutchen (oblique) went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 13-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It appears the oblique soreness that forced the outfielder from Sunday's contest was a minor issue. McCutchen put an end to a 2-for-18 skid with the three-hit showing Monday. He's slashing .234/.354/.433 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI, 44 runs scored and six stolen bases through 319 plate appearances this year.
Jul 4 2021McCutchen exited Sunday's loss to the Padres with oblique tightness, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen complained of oblique soreness during Sunday's contest, and he took himself out of the game with two outs in the top of the ninth inning rather than risking a more serious injury. The 34-year-old will be examined further Monday when the team travels to Chicago, and he should be considered day-to-day for now. Prior to his departure, the left fielder went 0-for-3 with a walk.
Jul 3 2021McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base Saturday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen singled off Yu Darvish in the sixth inning and promptly stole second base before coming in to score on a Rhys Hoskins double. The 34-year-old McCutchen is 6-for-7 on the basepaths this season, with half off those six steals coming in the last seven games. McCutchen has gotten on base at a healthy .352 clip this season -- he leads the Phillies with 48 walks -- and has 13 homers and 41 RBI in 253 at-bats, but his .229 average would be the lowest of his career.
Jun 27 2021McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder was productive Sunday with just his second three-hit effort of the year. After a third-inning single, McCutchen scored on an Alec Bohm groundout. Through 289 plate appearances this year, McCutchen is slashing .235/.349/.445 with 13 home runs, 40 RBI, 38 runs scored and five stolen bases.
Jun 26 2021McCutchen went 1-for-2 with two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: James McCann was brought in by the Mets in the offseason to improve the team's performance against opposition basestealers, but the pitching staff still features a number of slow deliveries and the Phillies took advantage Saturday, going 5-for-6 on steal attempts while either Jacob deGrom or Edwin Diaz were on the mound. McCutchen only has five stolen bases on the year and hadn't swiped one since May 13, but he clearly still has a bit of juice in his 34-year-old legs.
Jun 25 2021McCutchen is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder finds himself on the bench for the second straight game, though he came off the bench and hit a pinch-hit grand slam Wednesday. McCutchen figures to rejoin the lineup in Friday's nightcap.
Jun 23 2021McCutchen went 1-for-1 with a grand slam in Wednesday's 13-12 loss to the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran enjoyed a brief yet immensely impactful afternoon, pinch hitting for Archie Bradley to give the Phillies a 9-5 lead in the fifth inning. McCutchen has struggled with a .225 average this season, but he has hit .315 with 18 RBI in his last 17 games. While the 34-year-old's best offensive days are behind him, he remains a decent contributor and is unlikely to cede the starting left field job this season.
Jun 19 2021McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's loss to the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has gone deep in two of his last three games and has already blasted five homers across 13 games this month. While those power numbers are likely unsustainable, there's no question the veteran outfielder has provided a spark on offense for the Phillies over the last few weeks. He's hitting .326 with a 1.201 OPS across 49 plate appearances this month.
Jun 16 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen homered in his first at-bat of the evening and drove a low fastball over the wall in left-center field in the second to even the score at one. The 34-year-old wasn't seeing the ball very well for most of May but has come out hot in June with four home runs, 12 RBI and nine runs scored while slashing .333/.444/.778 with a 7:4 BB:K over 11 games.
Jun 13 2021McCutchen went 2-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and one RBI in Sunday's 7-0 win over the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had gone just 1-for-10 with two runs, an RBI and two walks across the last three games, but he flashed his power with two extra-base hits in Sunday's comfortable win. The 34-year-old is now hitting .224 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and 30 runs this season.
Jun 5 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer Saturday against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is only hitting .219 with a .761 OPS on the season, but he has been seeing the ball well of late -- he extended his hitting streak to five games while going deep three times in that stretch. The veteran outfielder also has two multi-hit games and seven RBI during that five-game span.
Jun 1 2021McCutchen went 2-for-3 with two home runs, four total RBI and two walks in Tuesday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen hadn't gone deep since May 19 but delivered a vintage power display, as he recorded his second two-homer game of the campaign -- he had already accomplished this feat on May 4 against the Brewers. Even though the veteran outfielder is not the player he once was, he's been a reliable fantasy contributor and has nine homers, 25 RBI and 24 runs scored despite hitting just .209 across 215 plate appearances.
May 27 2021McCutchen will sit Thursday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will rest for the second time in three days. The veteran outfielder was showing signs of life in early May following a slow start but has since gone on to hit just .151/.294/.321 over his last 15 games. Roman Quinn will lead off and play left field in his absence.
May 25 2021McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCuthchen is not reported to be injured, so this figures to simply be a day off for the veteran outfielder. Brad Miller will start in left field and bat third.
May 19 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk in Wednesday's loss against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran centerfielder provided all the offense the Phillies would muster in this game when he took Trevor Rogers deep in the sixth inning. McCutchen is only hitting .222, but he's on an impressive streak of reaching base safely at least once in 14 straight contests, as he continues to make his presence felt at the top of the Phillies lineup. He's hitting .300 with a .444 on-base percentage during that 14-game span.
May 16 2021McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and two strikeouts in Sunday's 10-8 loss to the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went hitless in three at-bats Saturday, but he bounced back with a solo shot in the sixth inning of Sunday's matchup. The 34-year-old is now slashing .223/.352/.400 with six home runs, 18 runs and 17 RBI this year.
May 9 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in a loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen opened Sunday Night Baseball quickly, hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning off Aaron Nola. It was McCutchen's fifth home run on the season as he continues to heat up and raise his slash line to a more respectable .227/.338/.400 as he continues to regain his form.
May 4 2021McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs Tuesday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen got the Phillies on the board quickly, hitting a leadoff home run in the first inning. He followed that up two frames later with his second long ball of the game and fourth of the season. Though he started the season slowly, McCutchen has now gone yard three times in his last three games and has improved his season-long line to a still subpar .191/.311/.360 across 106 plate appearances.
May 3 2021McCutchen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are getting McCutchen's eyes checked after he had trouble tracking line drives in recent games. It's possible that could explain his poor start to the season at the plate, as he's hitting just .179/.307/.286, though his 16.0 percent walk rate suggests he's tracking pitches well. It's unclear whether any potential eye issue is related to him sitting Monday or if he's simply getting a day off. Whatever the reason, Matt Joyce will be the left fielder in his absence.
May 2 2021McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 8-7 loss to the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started the scoring Sunday with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning off David Peterson. The veteran doesn't perform as well as he used to, but he still show flashes of excellence. He has two home runs and nine RBI in 101 plate appearances this season.
Apr 27 2021McCutchen remains on the bench Tuesday against St. Louis, Matt Breen of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen doesn't appear to be dealing with any injury, so it's possible he's slipping into the short side of a platoon in left field with Brad Miller, who's starting there again Tuesday. It's hard to argue McCutchen deserves everyday at-bats at the moment, as he's hitting just .154/.300/.231 on the year. The breakdown of playing time going forward may not become clear for a few more games.
Apr 26 2021McCutchen will sit Monday against the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Phillies are calling this just a routine day off for McCutchen, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, but it would hardly be a surprise if he finds himself on the bench more often going forward. His 17.5 percent walk rate remains excellent, but that's just about all that's going well for him at the moment, as he's hitting just .154 and slugging .231. The left-handed Brad Miller, who starts in his place Monday, would make for an obvious platoon partner, but the Phillies aren't expected to go in that direction quite yet.
Apr 20 2021McCutchen will not start Tuesday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen sits for the third time in the Phillies' first 17 games. He's struggled at the plate this season in everything but the walk department, hitting .157/.306/.255. Matt Joyce will start in left field Tuesday.
Apr 16 2021McCutchen went 2-for-5 with three RBI and a run in Friday's win over the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen took part in a six-run rally in the second frame by bringing two runners across with a single in the inning, and he plated another run with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning. McCutchen has been somewhat inconsistent to begin the season and has hit just .171 with two extra-base hits, five RBI and 11 strikeouts in 12 games.
Apr 15 2021McCutchen will sit Thursday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's 34-year-old legs should see fairly frequent rest this season, and an early afternoon contest seems like the perfect opportunity for that. He's struggled at the plate thus far, hitting .139/.279/.278 in 43 plate appearances. Matt Joyce will take over in left field in his absence.
Apr 13 2021McCutchen is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 34-year-old went 0-for-4 with one run and three strikeouts during the matinee, and he'll take a seat for the nightcap. Matt Joyce is starting in left field and batting leadoff in McCutchen's place for Game 2.
Apr 10 2021McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored Saturday in a loss to the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen entered the contest with only one extra-base hit to his name for the season before doubling that number with a 444-foot shot to left field in the fifth inning. The long ball pushed the veteran outfielder's batting average back over the Mendoza Line to .208. He also doubled his RBI total to two for the campaign.
Apr 6 2021McCutchen is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started each of the first four games of the season, going just 2-for-12 at the plate but walking five times. Matt Joyce will make his first start of the season in his absence.
Mar 13 2021McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The strong showing means the veteran outfielder has now gone 6-for-18 with three extra-base hits through seven Grapefruit League games. Entering the season healthy is what's most important for the former MVP, who posted a career-low 103 wRC+ last season in his first year back from a torn ACL. Any boost he gets from a healthy offseason could be offset by the effects of aging for the 34-year-old, though he should still be a respectable cross-category contributor this season unless age hits particularly hard.
Sep 27 2020McCutchen went 4-for-5 with a home run, an RBI and three runs scored Saturday against the Rays but the Phillies still lost, 4-3. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen led the way offensively for the Phillies, as he put up a four-hit night that was highlighted by a fifth-inning solo home run to left. The 33-year-old is hitting .258/.329/.441 with 10 home runs and 34 RBI in 56 games, as he's had a nice bounceback season after suffering a torn ACL in June of 2019.
Sep 23 2020McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two doubles and two additional runs scored during 12-3 win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder didn't have any opportunities with runners in scoring position despite the Phillies posting 14 hits, but he set the table as the leadoff man. McCutchen has a .250/.325/.422 slash line with nine homers, 29 runs, 33 RBI and four stolen bases in 54 games
Sep 21 2020McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen will retreat to the bench for Monday's series opener in Washington after going 2-for-18 over the past five games. Adam Haseley will take over in left field.
Sep 19 2020McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run during an 8-7 win over the Blue Jays in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 0-for-2 with two walks, a run scored and his fourth stolen base of the year in the matinee, McCutchen took Ross Stripling deep in the third inning of the nightcap for his eighth homer. The veteran outfielder is struggling to make consistent contact right now, going 4-for-29 (.138) with 10 strikeouts over his last eight games, but he's still finding ways to contribute.
Sep 14 2020McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen led the game off with a homer off Pablo Lopez, but it wound up being the only blood the Phillies would draw off the right-hander. The long ball was the outfielder's seventh of the season and it also gave him his 29th RBI.
Sep 12 2020McCutchen went a combined 5-for-8 with a double, a home run, two runs scored and four RBI during Friday's doubleheader against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Getting the start in left field and hitting leadoff in both contests, McCutchen spurred the Phillies to an 11-0 win in the matinee, although his efforts weren't as successful in the nightcap, as the Marlins rallied for a 5-3 victory. The veteran outfielder is slashing .263/.319/.421 with six homers, three steals, 22 runs and 28 RBI over 40 games this year.
Sep 8 2020McCutchen is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Red Sox, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started Game 1 of Tuesday's twin bill, going 1-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts. Kyle Garlick will take over in left field for the Phillies in the nightcap.
Sep 3 2020McCutchen is not in Thursday's lineup against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has been swinging a hot bat, slashing .333/.362/.644 with four home runs, two steals and just three strikeouts over his last 10 games. Jay Bruce is starting in left field while J.T. Realmuto gets the start at designated hitter.
Sep 1 2020McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a walk during Tuesday's 6-0 win over Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder came to the plate during the sixth inning with a pair of runners on base, and he launched a 410-foot shot to left to double the Phillies' 3-0 lead. McCutchen is 22-for-65 (.338 average) with five homers, three doubles, 18 RBI and three stolen bases in his last 15 games.
Aug 30 2020McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional run scored and an RBI double in Sunday's 12-10 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen clubbed his double to score Roman Quinn before scoring on a Rhys Hoskins homer in the third inning. In the eighth, McCutchen's solo shot brought the Phillies within a run, but they couldn't even the score. The 33-year-old has hit safely in nine of the last 10 games, including seven multi-hit efforts in that span. For the year, he's slashing .280/.322/.430 with four homers, 20 RBI, 16 runs scored and three stolen bases across 115 plate appearances.
Aug 29 2020McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in a 7-4 win over the Braves on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen opened up the scoring in the third with a two-run shot to center as the veteran outfielder appears to be locked in at the plate. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, accounting for three home runs and 13 RBI in that span.
Aug 25 2020McCutchen 1-for-4 with two runs, two RBI, two stolen bases and a walk during Tuesday's win over the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder's only hit Tuesday was a single, but he still managed to fill out the box score. McCutchen has a .239/.292/.341 slash line with two homers, 16 RBI and three stolen bases in 23 games
Aug 23 2020McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-5 loss to Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His seventh-inning shot off Grant Dayton gave the Phillies a 4-0 lead before another late-inning disaster by the team's bullpen cost them the win. McCutchen appears to be coming around after a rough start to the season; over his last 12 games, he's hitting .286 (14-for-49) with both his homers on the year plus a steal, six runs and 11 RBI.
Aug 20 2020McCutchen went 4-for-8 with a double, four RBI, and one run scored across both games of the Phillies' doubleheader against the Blue Jays on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen delivered two knocks in each game, with the big blow coming on a bases loaded double in the first inning of the second contest. After a slow start to the season, McCutchen now has a five-game hitting streak, three of which have been multi-hit efforts. That has brought his line to .243/.289/.329 to go along with seven runs scored and 12 RBI across 76 plate appearances for the campaign.
Aug 18 2020McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI single, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's 13-6 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the sixth inning, McCutchen plated Roman Quinn with a single for the go-ahead run. McCutchen then stole second and came around to score on a Bryce Harper three-run home run. The 33-year-old McCutchen is slashing .211/.270/.281 with a homer, a steal, eight RBI and five runs scored through 16 contests.
Aug 16 2020McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Sunday's win against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen wasn't in the starting nine Sunday, but he gave the Phillies a boost as part of a three-run sixth inning to put the team ahead. The home run was the first of the season for the 33-year-old, who has a .528 OPS with seven RBI in 2020.
Aug 10 2020McCutchen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has struggled out of the gate this season, hitting .133/.206/.167 through nine games. He sits for the second time in the last three games, though his previous time on the bench came in game one of a doubleheader Sunday. Jay Bruce moves to left field in his absence, with Phil Gosselin serving as the designated hitter and occupying McCutchen's usual leadoff role.
Aug 9 2020McCutchen is out of the lineup for Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Braves. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen unsurprisingly won't start both ends of the doubleheader, and he'll take a seat for the matinee. Adam Haseley, Roman Quinn and Bryce Harper will start from left to right in the outfield for Game 1.
Aug 5 2020McCutchen is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the Yankees, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen started in left field and batted leadoff during the matinee, going 0-for-3 with two runs and two walks. Jay Bruce will take over in left field for the Phillies in Game 2.
Jul 26 2020McCutchen is not in Sunday's lineup against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is 0-for-9 with three strikeouts and zero walks through two games. Jay Bruce will start in left field while Neil Walker gets the start at designated hitter.
Jul 14 2020McCutchen (knee) has been participating in the Phillies' intrasquad games at summer training, Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder was set to miss about the first month of the season as he completed his recovery from a torn ACL, but he's set to be ready for Opening Day with the delayed start to the season. McCutchen is expected to start in left field and bat leadoff in 2020 after posting an .835 OPS in 59 games last season before suffering the injury in early June.
Apr 3 2020McCutchen (knee) confirmed that he will be ready to lead off for the Phillies if and when the season gets underway, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports. "Now I know, whenever the time comes and we're playing again, I'll be ready to go," he said. "I'm really gonna be itching to get out on the field and play but right now I just need to take care of business and take advantage of this time." ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has been working out five days per week in Florida. The Phillies would have been without McCutchen for the first month of the season if it had started on time, but the delayed start will allow him to finish rehabbing his torn ACL that was operated on last June.
Feb 28 2020McCutchen (knee) will open the season on the injured list, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is still working his way back from the ACL tear he suffered back in June. At the start of February, he said that he expected to be ready to go by the start of the regular season, but things have evidently not progressed as he'd hoped. The Phillies hope he'll be back sometime in April. In his absence, Jay Bruce, Nick Williams or Roman Quinn could play a larger role.
Feb 21 2020McCutchen (knee) has yet to be cleared to participate in games and has been on his own workout program this spring, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Previous reports held that McCutchen expected to be recovered from his ACL tear by Opening Day. Gelb's report doesn't directly contradict that, though it would obviously be nice to see him prove that by looking good in Grapefruit League action. With the start of the season still over a month away, McCutchen has plenty of time to catch up to his teammates. If he ends up needing to open the year on the injured list, that would open up at-bats for Jay Bruce or Roman Quinn in the outfield.
Feb 3 2020McCutchen (knee) said "for sure" when asked if he anticipates being ready for Opening Day, Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's first season in Philadelphia was shaping up as a resounding success until he was sidelined after tearing the ACL in his left knee in early June. While the rehab process has been a familiar one for McCutchen after he previously tore the ACL in his right knee in high school, he may have more difficulty re-emerging as an annual double-digit steals threat as he heads into his age-34 campaign. At this stage of his rehab, McCutchen isn't facing any restrictions with his running, throwing or hitting, so as spring training approaches, he's merely just awaiting clearance from the Phillies' medical staff to resume participating in simulated games. Even if McCutchen's prediction comes to pass and he's declared ready to go for Opening Day, expect the outfielder to handle only a light load of games during Grapefruit League play.
Jun 24 2019McCutchen (knee) was transferred to the 60-day injured list<\/a> Monday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 14 2019McCutchen underwent surgery to reconstruct the ACL in his left knee and repair a medial meniscus tear Friday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019McCutchen was diagnosed with a sprained left knee after exiting Monday's 8-2 loss to the Padres and is slated to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019McCutchen was placed on the 10-day injured list and ruled out for the season with a torn ACL on Tuesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 4 2019McCutchen was ruled out for the season with a torn ACL on Tuesday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 3 2019McCutchen left Monday's game against the Padres after appearing to injure his left knee, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 31 2019McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-3 loss to the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 29 2019McCutchen went 1-for-1 with four runs scored, a two-run home run and three walks in Wednesday's 11-4 win over St. Louis.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 28 2019McCutchen will start in center field against right-handed pitching moving forward, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 23 2019McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs, two RBI and a walk in the Phillies' 9-7 victory over the Cubs on Thursday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 17 2019McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run, two walks and two runs scored Friday against Colorado.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019McCutchen went 1-for-2 with three walks and a run scored Sunday against Kansas City.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 8 2019McCutchen is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cardinals, Jim Salisbury of NBC Sports Philadelphia<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 23 2018McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's extra-inning loss to the Athletics.McCutchen's eighth-inning homer put the Giants on top momentarily, but it was all for naught as the bullpen failed to hold the lead. The 31-year-old's numbers are down across the board since joining San Francisco this season, but he has salvaged some fantasy value with a .259 batting average, 51 runs, 10 homers, 42 RBI and nine steals in 97 games.
Jul 21 2018McCutchen went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base Saturday against the Athletics.McCutchen didn't record a hit but still managed to swipe his ninth base of the season and third in his past 10 games. He is almost certain to surpass 11 stolen bases, his highest mark since 2015. However, his disappointing .411 slugging percentage is a career-low and has held back his production this season.
Jul 14 2018McCutchen went 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base Saturday against the Athletics.McCutchen's power production has been nonexistent of late -- he has no extra-base hits in July -- but he has produced on the basepaths in that time. Since the calendar flipped, he has two stolen bases on three attempts, bringing his season total to eight. That puts him on pace for his highest single-season mark since 2014, helping him maintain fantasy viability despite disappointing production in most other areas.
Jul 9 2018McCutchen went 3-for-6 with an RBI in Sunday's 13-8 win over the Cardinals.McCutchen got off to a rough 1-for-15 start in July, but he has delivered five hits, two RBI and a stolen base over his last three contests. The 31-year-old is slashing a respectable .262/.345/.422 through 88 games, with just enough power (nine homers) and speed (seven steals) to maintain mixed-league value.
Jul 3 2018McCutchen is not in the lineup versus Colorado on Tuesday, Kerry Crowley of the Bay Area News Group reports.McCutchen will get a rare day off following 11 straight starts as Hunter Pence gets the nod in right field. Over the past two games, McCutchen has gone 0-for-10 and will look to clear his head before returning to the starting nine for Wednesday's series finale.
Jun 30 2018McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored Saturday against the Diamondbacks.McCutchen's slugging percentage and batting average both increased significantly throughout June, so it was appropriate the he ended the month on a strong note. He has 12 three-hit performances and six home runs in the past 30 days, so it appears that he may once again breakout of an early season slump to post solid season-long numbers.
Jun 29 2018McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's loss to the Rockies.McCutchen has turned things on in the month of June, slashing .300/.342/.540 with five homers, 16 RBI, 17 runs and a pair of steals over 108 plate appearances. The 31-year-old should continue to provide modest contributions across the five main offensive fantasy categories while batting in the heart of the Giants' order.
Jun 23 2018McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Padres.McCutchen was able to successfully nab his sixth stolen base of the season after getting thrown out on his previous two steal attempts. The 31-year-old has been heating up with the warm summer air, slashing .301/.326/.566 with five homers, 14 RBI and two steals over 21 games in June.
Jun 20 2018McCutchen is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Marlins, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.Over his last 16 games, McCutchen has hit .333/.347/.623 with five home runs. Mac Williamson will slide over to right field Wednesday with Hunter Pence getting the start in left.
Jun 14 2018McCutchen went 3-for-7 with a two-run home run and two runs scored Thursday in the Giants' 16-inning victory over the Marlins.Cutch left the yard on a first-inning hanging breaking ball from Dan Straily, launching it into the left field stands. He also cleared the fences Wednesday and has done so five times in his past 11 games. In that stretch, he's 18-or-49 (.367) with 12 RBI and 11 runs scored. McCutchen looks like he's firmly curing his early-season power woes.
Jun 13 2018McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer and a double in Wednesday's loss to the Marlins.McCutchen got the Giants on the board early with his homer in the top of the first inning, but they ultimately couldn't make it hold up in the 5-4 defeat. The 31-year-old has notched multi-hit efforts in six of his last seven starts, hitting four doubles, two home runs and six RBI over that span. Though he got off to a slow start over the opening two months, McCutchen is now up to a .262/.351/.447 slash line following his recent outburst.
Jun 10 2018McCutchen is not in the lineup Sunday against the Nationals, Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports reports.McCutchen will be stationed on the bench in what appears to be a routine day of rest for the red-hot right fielder. McCutchen has notched multi-hit performances in five of his last six starts and is slashing an elite .364/.348/.705 over his past 10 games. Mac Williamson starts in right field Sunday with Hunter Pence manning the other corner-outfield spot.
Jun 9 2018McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in Friday's loss to the Nationals.McCutchen drove in a run during the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly, cutting Washington's lead to just one. He's been heating up at the plate recently, collecting four straight multi-hit games. Through 61 games this season, he's batting .261 with six homers, 29 RBI and a .787 OPS.
Jun 5 2018McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's win over Arizona.Zack Godley made a mistake in location with his sinker in the fourth inning, and McCutchen made him pay by depositing the ball into the left field bleachers at AT&T Park. The 31-year-old has now homered in consecutive games after going 36 games between his previous two long balls. McCutchen's power was expected to take a hit based on the cavernous dimensions of his new home park, and it certainly has when you consider he has hit just five home runs through 247 plate appearances. What wasn't expected was his drop in batting average (.246), and his .309 BABIP indicates that he isn't necessarily getting unlucky. Fortunately for McCutchen's fantasy owners, the outfielder's batted ball metrics show that he is actually stroking the ball with more authority than he has at any point during his illustrious career (47.8 Hard% in 2018 compared to 37.3 percent career rate), which could lead to increased power numbers as we enter the warmer summer months.
Jun 3 2018McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run Sunday against the Phillies.McCutchen drove a curveball up in the zone from Jake Arrieta out to the opposite field in the sixth inning for his fourth home run of the season. The shot was McCutchen's first homer since April 20, though he has started to show signs of hitting for power with four extra-base hits in his past 10 games. He got off to a similarly slow start last season before going on a hot-stretch in June, so there is hope that his performance will turn around at some point this season, but to this point McCutchen's performance has been a significant disappointment.
May 27 2018McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's win over the Cubs.McCutchen had gone 0-for-11 since returning from a minor knee ailment May 22, so Saturday's healthy stat line should ease his owners' thoughts going forward. The 31-year-old is slashing .239/.346/.378 as he continues to try and climb out of his anemic start to the year. He has been able to provide decent counting stats (28 runs and 20 RBI) to help offset the negative value in average.
May 22 2018McCutchen (knee) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Astros.McCutchen bruised his knee Saturday against the Rockies and was forced to leave the game. He missed Sunday's contest but is back in action Tuesday after the team's day off Monday. He'll bat second and play right field.
May 20 2018McCutchen (knee) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Rockies, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.McCutchen suffered a bruised knee on a slide Saturday, and it only makes sense that the Giants would hold him out through Monday's off day. If the knee is still barking come Tuesday, the Giants could opt to DH McCutchen for the two-game set in Houston.
May 19 2018McCutchen sustained a bruised knee on a slide and exited Saturday's win over the Rockies, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.McCutchen went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run and was replaced in right field by Gregor Blanco for the start of the eighth inning. The 31-year-old is considered day-to-day and could be available for Sunday's series finale, but with an off day Monday, the team could illustrate additional caution with the veteran outfielder.
May 10 2018McCutchen is not in the lineup against the Phillies on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.McCutchen has gone 8-for-20 (.400 average) with one RBI over the past six games and will head to the bench for Thursday's matinee series finale in Philadelphia. Gregor Blanco will start in right field while Brandon Belt draws a start in left. Expect McCutchen back in the lineup Friday for his return to Pittsburgh.
May 4 2018McCutchen (elbow) will play right field and bat second against the Braves on Friday, Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.McCutchen will not be forced to miss any time after exiting Wednesday's contest following a pitch to his elbow in the bottom of the fourth inning. The outfielder received clean results from his MRI and should be fully operational moving forward.
May 2 2018McCutchen was diagnosed with a left elbow contusion after X-rays came back negative, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.McCutchen was lifted from Wednesday's contest after getting hit in the elbow by a pitch, but it appears that nothing serious occurred as a result of the incident. Consider him day-to-day for now as he eyes a return to the lineup Friday following the team's off day Thursday.
May 2 2018McCutchen was removed from Wednesday's game against the Padres with an apparent injury.The reason for McCutchen's removal remains unclear at the moment, but he was hit on the elbow with a pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning. While he was originally able to stay in the game for the next inning, the veteran outfielder was replaced by Gregor Blanco prior to the fourth inning. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Apr 29 2018McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers.McCutchen has had some tough times at the plate lately. Over the last seven games he's gone 3-for-18 (.167) and struck out seven times. However, despite his struggles he's managed to get on base frequently, as he's drawn nine walks in that time. Austin Slater will start in right field and hit seventh with McCutchen out.
Apr 20 2018McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run to help the Giants to an 8-1 victory over the Angels on Friday.It's been a slow start for the first-year Giant, who is still slashing just .213/.280/.373 despite getting his third long ball of the year. McCutchen has shown a propensity for bouncing back after rough starts in the past, so it's still too early to be reading too much into the early season struggles for a hitter who has a .290 average and an .863 OPS over the last decade and ended up slashing .279/.363/.486 after a similarly slow start last year.
Apr 15 2018McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks Saturday against the Padres.McCutchen managed to hit his second home run of the season in the fifth inning off left-handed pitcher Clayton Richard on Saturday. He has gotten off to a slow start with his new club, now slugging just .357 for the season. He had a similarly slow start last season, and rebounded to produce valuable numbers in June and July so it isn't time to panic yet.
Apr 11 2018McCutchen filled up the box score Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in a walkoff win over the Diamondbacks.McCutchen's gap shot with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning sent the crowd in San Francisco home happy. It was the outfielder's second walkoff hit over the club's last four contests. The 31-year-old got off to a rough 2-for-24 start with his new club, but he has turned things around with a homer, six RBI and a pair of steals while batting .444 (8-for-18) over the last four games.
Apr 7 2018McCutchen went 6-for-7 with a stolen base, one home run, four RBI, and two runs scored Saturday against the Dodgers.McCutchen had just two hits entering Saturday's game, but he produced across the board against the Dodgers including a walk-off three-run home run. He was also successful on his first stolen base attempt of the season. McCutchen has started slowly in seasons past, and though he's no longer a first-round producer, he should improve from his sluggish start as the season wears on.
Apr 4 2018McCutchen has hit third for the Giants while starting in right field for each of the team's first five games to begin the season.He put together a .341/.431/.477 line with a homer and seven RBI during spring training, but has started the season with a quiet 2-for-20 start. Despite the addition of McCutchen and Evan Longoria this offseason, the Giants have opened the season in a five-game scoring slump, with just six runs on the ledger thus far.
Mar 10 2018McCutchen has gone 5-for-13 (.385) for the Giants this spring.One of the Giants' prized offseason acquisitions has gotten off to solid start with his new club. McCutchen still hasn't delivered an extra-base hit, but the key for the veteran outfielder is that he is healthy and he has his timing down early in camp. The move to AT&T Park is never a positive for a hitter, but the 31-year-old managed to club 28 home runs while playing home games at PNC Park last season, which ranked in the bottom third in terms of park factors for long balls in 2017. The days of McCutchen being a 20/20 threat are in the rear-view mirror, but the right fielder should be able to reach the 20-homer mark with a solid batting average and healthy counting stats while batting in the middle of San Francisco's revamped lineup.
Jan 16 2018McCutchen, who was acquired by the Giants on Monday via trade, was told he'll play a corner outfield spot for his new club in 2018, Buster Olney of ESPN reports.While McCutchen has primarily played center field throughout his professional career, the 31-year-old isn't completely unfamiliar with right field as he spent the first 13 games of the 2017 campaign there before a suspension to Starling Marte allowed him to shift back to center. With McCutchen expected to occupy a corner outfield spot, the Giants could bring in a potential center fielder or turn to prospect Steven Duggar.
Jan 15 2018McCutchen was traded to the Giants on Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.It's unclear what the Pirates are receiving in return at this point, but the deal is all but done, pending an exchange of medical information. McCutchen bounced back last season after his lackluster 2016 campaign, hitting .279/.363/.486 with 28 homers and 11 stolen bases across 156 games. While the 31-year-old likely won't return to his MVP form, he proved he still has something left in the tank and figures to play an important role for the Giants this season.
Nov 3 2017The Pirates picked up McCutchen's $14.5 million club option for 2018 on Friday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.McCutchen will return to Pittsburgh for another season following this announcement, as the 31-year-old underwent an up-and-down season throughout the 2017 campaign. All in all, he wound up slashing .279/.363/.486 with 28 home runs and 88 RBI, and hit at a .361 average since May 26.
Oct 2 2017McCutchen was named the NL Player of the Week after hitting .471 with two homers and nine RBI.His final slash line (.279/.363/.486) doesn't do justice to the roller coaster ride in 2017. The soon-to-be 31-year-old slashed .361/.464/.652 over a 64-game stretch starting May 26, but he slumped for month-long stretches on multiple occasions. The Pirates hold a team option for $14.5 million in 2018, but the organization could decide to trade him or simply let him walk. Most likely, Pittsburgh will exercise the option and keep him for one last run in 2018. General manager Neal Huntington refused to tip his hand as to what direction the team might take with McCutchen, saying during his radio show Sunday that he'll announce plans surrounding McCutchen's option shortly after the end to the World Series.
Oct 1 2017McCutchen (foot) is starting in center field and batting third in Sunday's game against the Nationals, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.McCutchen was a late scratch from Saturday's contest due to some left foot discomfort, but after a day of rest he's ready to rejoin the Pirates' starting lineup. He'll look to end his strong 2017 campaign on a positive note in the season's final game.
Sep 30 2017McCutchen was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup with left foot discomfort, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.He fouled a ball off his foot in Friday's game, and is day-to-day on the final weekend of the season. Starling Marte moves over to center field while Jordan Luplow enters the lineup in left field, hitting cleanup.
Sep 27 2017McCutchen went 4-for-4 with two home runs, eight RBI and four runs in Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Orioles.The RBI total was a career high for McCutchen, who plated half his runs on his first career grand slam, which came in the second inning. He homered again in the sixth inning and added a double and single for good measure, which translated to most memorable performance of what's been a nice bounce-back season for the former MVP. A popular name in trade discussions last offseason, McCutchen will likely appear in the rumor mill again this winter if the Pirates decide to pursue a rebuild. Given the stellar .278/.362/.487 batting line he's submitted this season, the 30-year-old would surely fetch a more significant haul in any trade than he would have at this point a year ago.
Sep 19 2017McCutchen collected three singles Monday, going 3-for-4 against Milwaukee.Over his last 13 games, McCutchen is slashing .321/.357/.547 in 56 plate appearances. The center fielder has seven hits in 21 at-bats against Tuesday starter Chase Anderson, including a homer Sept. 13. Pittsburgh's offense continues to struggle but McCutchen has regained his stroke after a disappointing August.
Sep 16 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer Saturday against the Reds.McCutchen blasted his 26th homer of the season in the ninth inning to pull the Reds within a single run in a losing effort. He's left the yard in three of his last five games, and could be starting a hot streak that could be extremely helpful to fantasy owners during the most important part of the season.
Sep 14 2017McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored during Wednesday's loss to Milwaukee.This was McCutchen's 25th long fly of the season, and he's taking a run at posting his best fantasy campaign since 2014 with an extra-base hit in each of his past four games. It's been another strong cross-category showing and McCutchen appears in line to finish the year strong.
Sep 13 2017McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a double Tuesday in Milwaukee.His two-base hit, which produced an 109-mph exit velocity, gives the center fielder extra-base hits in three straight games. McCutchen is far removed from his summer hot stretch (he entered Tuesday hitting .194 since Aug. 17), but he does have hits in seven of eight contests. McCutchen is batting .316 in 19 career at-bats against Wednesday starter Chase Anderson.
Sep 8 2017McCutchen is out of the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.McCutchen has started 12 consecutive games, but will receive the night off Friday. Over said games he hit .208/.255/.229 and collected just one extra-base hit. Starling Marte will move over to center field Friday while Jordan Luplow heads out to left.
Sep 6 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his 11th stolen base of the season Wednesday.After slashing .171/.244/.207 in his prior 90 plate appearances, the outfielder has four hits in nine at-bats. McCutchen boasts a 1.111 OPS in 110 at-bats against southpaws in 2017 and will face lefty Jose Quintana on Wednesday.
Aug 27 2017McCutchen snapped an 0-for-15 slide with an RBI single Sunday in Cincinnati.His lone hit of the game came after home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg refused to give McCutchen timeout while he was batting. The center fielder will look to snap out of his funk at Wrigley Field on Monday, where he holds a career slash line of .317/.424/.481 in 290 plate appearances.
Aug 26 2017McCutchen struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance to end Friday's game.Since the All-Star break, he's slashing .256/.363/.421 with six homers and four stolen bases in 157 plate appearances. He's posted a .642 August OPS (in 89 PA) while his plate discipline (10:19 BB:K) has suffered. Meanwhile, McCutchen's .279 career batting average in September represents his second-worst month behind only April (.254), something to consider the rest of the way. To be fair, he bounced back after not starting for a couple days in late May, so perhaps his time off will jumpstart his numbers in the short run.
Aug 25 2017McCutchen is out of the lineup Friday against the Reds.Following two consecutive hitless games, McCutchen will get the night to clear his head. Starling Marte will move to center field while Adam Frazier and John Jaso head to left and right field.
Aug 24 2017McCutchen went 0-for-3 against the Dodgers on Wednesday.He's hitting just .213/.288/.277 with no homers and three RBI in his last 13 games (covering 52 plate appearances). McCutchen couldn't be expected to keep up his pace from June and July, but his swing looks a little tired right now. He'll face lefty Hyun-jin Ryu on Thursday afternoon: he's 2-for-9 with a homer and two RBI for his career against Ryu.
Aug 17 2017McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double during Thursday's contest against the Cardinals.After a knee injury kept him out of a game Saturday and in the DH spot Sunday, McCutchen's return to the field showed no lingering effects as recorded his 11th three-hit game of the season and his first since late July. The center fielder is now slashing .291/.384./.515, not the most impressive stats of his career but still great overall stats.
Aug 15 2017McCutchen will bat third and start in center field Tuesday for the time since injuring his knee Friday.McCutchen went 1-for-3 as the Pirates' designated hitter Sunday in Toronto and said he could've played in the outfield. He's slashing .307/.368/.591 for his career at Miller Park and has hit more homers in Milwaukee (19) than any park aside from PNC Park. He's 4-for-10 with a home run and five RBI against Tuesday starter Zach Davies.
Aug 13 2017McCutchen (knee) is hitting third as the Pirates designated hitter during Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.McCutchen exited Friday's game with a minor knee injury, but is set to rejoin the starting lineup after getting the day off Saturday. The Pirates have a scheduled off-day Monday, so it's possible that the veteran could return to the outfield when the team kicks off its two-game set against the Brewers on Monday.
Aug 12 2017McCutchen (knee) said he could have played Saturday if asked, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.This is encouraging news, as it appears McCutchen was held out of Saturday's game simply as precaution. The Pirates will likely wait to see how McCutchen feels during Sunday's pregame before making a decision regarding his status, but the 30-year-old seems to be on the cusp of a return.
Aug 12 2017McCutchen (knee) is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Blue Jays.McCutchen exited Friday's game with discomfort in his knee, and while the injury isn't thought to be anything overly serious, the Pirates won't take any chances with their stud outfielder. While he ultimately isn't in the lineup, the 30-year-old was able to take batting practice during pregame warmups, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports, so it seems likely that the team will wait to see how he feels during Saturday's pregame routine before making a decision on his status for the series finale.
Aug 11 2017McCutchen limped off the field and was removed from Friday's game after hitting a double in the third inning, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen appeared to be fine after hitting the double, but possibly tweaked his left knee or hamstring trying to double back to second after a pitch during the next at-bat. He was replaced on second and in center field by Starling Marte. Consider him day-to-day for now, but this kind of non-contact leg injury is scary and could keep McCutchen out for a significant period of time.
Aug 11 2017McCutchen (knee) said he felt "significantly better" after Friday's game and could play Saturday, DK Pittsburgh Sports reports.The team will decide Saturday whether he's fit to return to the lineup as a designated hitter or center fielder. "I'd like to play defense, too," he said. "I feel better now. Docs ran some tests. It was good. We'll see how it feels tomorrow." He described his pain as a cramp and said he didn't need an MRI, even as a precautionary measure. It appears fantasy owners dodged a major bullet Friday.
Aug 11 2017McCutchen officially exited Friday night's game with left patella femoral discomfort, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.In English, that means McCutchen's knee is sore. The immediate diagnosis, then, is fairly positive considering McCutchen had to limp off the field from second base in the third inning. It's still unclear if he will require a disabled list stint, though, and he will likely be reevaluated before Saturday afternoon's contest against Toronto.
Aug 7 2017McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an intentional walk Sunday against San Diego.He's 6-for-21 with no extra-base hits in six August games. Against Monday's starter, Jordan Zimmermann, McCutchen is a career 2-for-8 with a pair of homers. Plate discipline has served the outfielder well in his resurgence. Prior to May 25, he held a 17:35 BB:K mark. Since then, he's put up a much improved ratio of 41:42 BB:K. He'll look for his first extra-base hit since July on Monday.
Jul 30 2017McCutchen went 3-for-3 with three solo homers, two walks and four runs scored Sunday in San Diego.All three of McCutchen's home runs came against left-handed pitching, as he hit one in the first inning off Clayton Richard and took Jose Torres deep twice in the final two frames. This was the veteran outfielder's third multi-homer effort of the season and first three-homer game since April 26 of last year in Colorado. Five of McCutchen's six hits in the past six games have left the yard.
Jul 29 2017McCutchen went 2-for-3 with his 19th homer Friday against the Padres.He's cooled off since the All-Star break, slashing .250/.373/.396 with two homers and three stolen bases. The nine steals have been a pleasant surprise after McCutchen stole only six bags in 13 attempts last year. His .890 OPS in 2017 is the highest since 2014. The odds of Pittsburgh moving McCutchen prior to the deadline have increased somewhat, given the team's recent slide, but it's still unlikely a trade happens prior to the off season.
Jul 22 2017McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two walks, three runs scored and three RBI in Friday's 13-5 win over the Rockies.It's his first multi-hit performance since the All-Star break, extending McCutchen's current on-base streak to 12 games. He's arguably been the most valuable hitter in baseball since the calendar flipped to June, slashing .384/.481/.642 in his last 42 games with nine homers, four steals, 32 RBI and 37 runs, and Cutch's resurgence is a big reason why the Pirates suddenly find themselves back in the thick of the NL Central playoff race.
Jul 6 2017McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a walk and two runs Thursday in Philadelphia.McCutchen, Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco supplied almost all of the offense in this 6-3 win, finishing with a combined nine hits and six runs scored. This was his fifth multi-hit performance in nine games since being moved from sixth to third in the batting order, and the 2013 NL MVP also has eight extra-base hits over that span. The recent uptick in performance has raised McCutchen's season line to .289/.375/.520.
Jul 5 2017McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo homers Tuesday against Philadelphia.After being named the National League Player of the Month for June, McCutchen is off to a great start in July, going 5-for-12 with four extra-base hits. He's slashing .395/.497/.689 with eight homers and 23 RBI since May 26. While the outfielder has swiped only one of his six bags in the last 41 games, owners have no doubt enjoyed his monster turnaround. It's still a toss-up as to whether McCutchen will get dealt at the deadline, but he's definitely upped his trade value.
Jul 2 2017McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.McCutchen has punished opposing pitchers over the past several weeks, posting an absurd .505 on-base percentage in June, but he'll get the day off against Jeff Samardzija and the Giants. Adam Frazier will take over in center field with John Jaso drawing the start in left.
Jul 1 2017McCutchen (shin) is starting in center field and hitting third Saturday against the Giants.He fouled a ball off his left shin in Friday's game, but the bruise was not serious enough to keep him out the following day. McCutchen hit .411/.505/.689 with six home runs and more walks (17) than strikeouts (12) in 90 June at-bats.
Jun 30 2017McCutchen suffered an ankle injury in Friday's game against San Francisco but doesn't expect to miss any time, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen still went 2-for-2 with a walk and a hit-by-pitch and managed a single even after suffering the injury. He says he'll play if he can walk, and he was walking just fine after Friday's game. Still, to be on the safe side, McCutchen should be considered day-to-day.
Jun 30 2017McCutchen expects to play Saturday after fouling a ball off his left shin, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports."It hurts," McCutchen said with a smile after the game. "It's good, though - but it hurts." McCutchen was also plunked in the back by an off-speed pitch Friday. The outfielder, who has reached base in eight straight plate appearances, finishes June with a .411 average, .509 on-base percentage, .689 slugging percentage and 1.198 OPS.
Jun 27 2017McCutchen is starting in center field and batting third Tuesday against the Rays.McCutchen was dropped to sixth in the order just about a month ago after a horrendous start to the season, but he appears to have reclaimed his spot in the heart of the Pirates' order after a putting together an impressive month at the plate. The 30-year-old compiled a .380/.471/.690 triple slash with eight homers and a 19:17 K:BB in 28 games (119 plate appearances) while hitting sixth. The struggling Gregory Polanco was dropped to sixth in the order Tuesday. McCutchen should continue to slot into the top third of the order if he keeps mashing at the plate.
Jun 20 2017McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and three RBI during Monday's win over Milwaukee.Through 22 games since moving down the lineup into the six-hole, McCutchen has exploded for seven homers, 20 RBI, 19 runs and a .378/.453/.720 slash line. His batting average has climbed 55 points during that stretch, and he's now on track to post another solid cross-category fantasy campaign.
Jun 20 2017McCutchen went 3-for-3 with a homer, a walk, three RBI and two runs against the Brewers on Tuesday.Through this season's first 45 games, McCutchen was hitting a brutal .200/.271/.359 with six homers and 20 RBI, but the light came on in late May: Over the 24 games since, he's hit a spectacular .402 with eight homers and 23 RBI. That's both intriguing and confusing output from a guy who's coming off his worst MLB season and was widely considered to be in decline -- an idea his early slump did nothing to dispel. However, it's certainly tantalizing whenever we see this kind of outburst from a guy who's done it before.
Jun 14 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI against Colorado on Tuesday.Since moving to the sixth slot in the lineup May 26, McCutchen is batting .397/.480/.730 with five homers and 15 RBI in 75 plate appearances. Historically, the outfielder has put up some of his best monthly numbers in June (.313/.386/.516), though he hit just .202 last June. He's in a good spot right now and gives fantasy owners the option to either ride out his streak or perhaps sell high on his value.
Jun 13 2017McCutchen went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run during Monday's win over Colorado.McCutchen has gone 24-for-61 with three home runs, 12 RBI, 15 runs and a 1.119 OPS during a 17 games since being bumped down the lineup. He's now hit sixth in each of the past 16 outings, and the demotion has clicked for the veteran. He's proven capable of posting huge numbers over prolonged hot stretches in the past, and he's already increased his batting average 51 points through this 17-game stretch.
Jun 11 2017McCutchen is batting .392/.484/.647 in 62 plate appearances since moving from the third spot to sixth in the lineup May 26.He went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI doubles against Miami on Saturday. McCutchen compiled a 17:35 BB:K in his first 44 games, but has improved to 11:14 since moving down in the order. He's raised his batting average 47 points (.200 to .247) with his recent hot stretch.
Jun 5 2017McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a three-run home run and three runs scored during Sunday's win over the Mets.The ninth-inning homer just padded Pittsburgh's lead, but it was a welcomed blast for fantasy owners. McCutchen is riding an 11-for-27 stretch at the plate with three homers, eight RBI and nine runs through his past eight games, and the stretch has him up to a .232/.313/.419 slash line for the season. It's worth noting that he's batted sixth in each of those eight contests, so perhaps the shift down the lineup is helping to kick-start his bat.
Jun 1 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of walks Wednesday against Arizona.He's hitting .381 in 21 at-bats since the Pirates moved him to the sixth spot in the batting order May 26. After an off-day Thursday, McCutchen will face the Mets' Matt Harvey on Friday in New York. McCutchen has three hits (including a homer) in seven career at-bats against Harvey.
May 29 2017McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk-off solo home run in the ninth and two runs scored in Monday's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks.After getting a few days off to clear his head recently, McCutchen has now homered in two of his last three games and seems rejuvenated at the dish. Despite hitting just .215 on the season, the 30-year-old outfielder has 23 runs scored, 24 RBI and five steals in 207 plate appearances. While most likely believe the decline is full effect for McCutchen, he could also be in the midst of turning his season around.
May 28 2017McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double and three RBI during Saturday's extra-innings win over the Mets.Currently sporting a disastrous .212/.286/.385 slash line through 199 plate appearances, McCutchen is struggling to find the form that made him a fantasy superstar earlier in his career. He's providing respectable counting starts with seven homers, 23 RBI, 21 runs and five stolen bases, but he also has just eight multi-hit games all season. It's worth noting that McCutchen finished 2016 well with a .284 batting average and .852 OPS over the final two months, so perhaps another midseason turnaround is ahead.
May 27 2017McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts Friday against the Mets.The Pirates kept him out of the starting lineup Wednesday and Thursday in hopes of rebooting his season, but the initial results look pretty much the same. He struck out on three pitches in the ninth inning against reliever Fernando Salas and his 91-mph fastball. Manager Clint Hurdle moved McCutchen down to sixth in the batting order in hopes of taking some pressure off, but the outfielder is now slashing .167/.207/.256 with a 4:18 K:BB in his last 78 at-bats.
May 25 2017McCutchen delivered a pinch-hit single in Tuesday's 12-5 win over Atlanta.He led off the 10th inning with his hit, snapping an 0-for-15 stretch that dropped his batting average to .200. McCutchen would then go on to whiff in his second at-bat. The team hasn't yet revealed whether the outfielder will return to the starting lineup Thursday afternoon.
May 25 2017McCutchen is not in the Pirates' Thursday lineup against the Braves, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.The 30-year-old will ride the pine for the second straight game, though he knocked a pinch-hit single Wednesday. McCutchen could return to the lineup Friday, as no reason has been given other than rest. Adam Frazier slides to center field to take his place Thursday.
May 24 2017McCutchen is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Braves, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.McCutchen's awful season may have hit its nadir over the last three games, during which he's failed to record a hit in 12 at-bats. Either out of loyalty to McCutchen or as a means of building up his trade value, the Pirates probably won't strip the former National League MVP of his everyday role this season, but manager Clint Hurdle hinted that McCutchen wouldn't necessarily reenter the lineup in Thursday's series finale. Hurdle will call upon Danny Ortiz to make the start in center field Wednesday.
May 19 2017McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a double against Washington on Thursday.He's strung together back-to-back multi-hit games and after stealing six bases last season, McCutchen has swiped three bags in his last four games. Still, the outfielder expressed dissatisfaction in his overall play, blaming himself for manager Clint Hurdle's decision to remove him Wednesday as part of a double switch. McCutchen is batting just .176/.231/.269 in 108 at-bats against right-handed pitching, well below his career mark of .282/.371/.465. The 30-year-old will likely continue to struggle until he can find his game against righties.
May 17 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBI, two steals and two runs against the Nationals on Wednesday.This marks McCutchen's first multi-hit game since April 28, as it's been a tough season for the veteran. Still, there are positive signs to be found here. His power hasn't entirely abandoned him (.179 ISO)and his .225 BABIP is primed for improvement, considering that McCutchen has actually cut his strikeout rate while still generally hitting the ball well. There's an intriguing buy-low opportunity here.
May 14 2017McCutchen is slashing .132/.207/.302 in his last 58 plate appearances since April 29.Despite his struggles, McCutchen is batting .333 with three homers and eight RBI against left-handed pitching in 2017. With Arizona throwing southpaw Robbie Ray on Sunday (against whom McCutchen has two hits in five career at-bats), perhaps the outfielder can get back on track. Certainly his .226 BABIP figures to inch closer to his career mark of .328, or at least his 2016 number of .297.
May 7 2017McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.With just three hits through his first six games of May, McCutchen will head to the bench Sunday for a scheduled day of rest. The former MVP has been a disappointment thus far in 2017 but hopefully Sunday's day off will allow the veteran outfielder to come back rejuvenated for the team's upcoming seven-game road trip through Los Angeles and Arizona.
May 3 2017McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a two-run homer Wednesday, accounting for all the Pirates' runs in a 4-2 loss to Cincinnati.McCutchen is a remarkable case of consistency not adding up to significant potency, as he's now reached base safely in 22 straight games, and yet he's hitting just .256 in that span (and .235 for the year). That said, he's walking plentifully and all five of his home runs have come in the course of this streak. McCutchen's BABIP is awfully depressed at .240 right now, and even if it rebounds only to somewhere around last season's .297 rather than his career .330 mark, that'll return his average into more-than-respectable territory. His speed has faded, so its important for McCutchen to hit for average to differentiate himself from the crowd of outfielders with 25-homer pop.
Apr 27 2017McCutchen extended his on-base streak to 16 games with an RBI double against the Cubs on Wednesday.McCutchen is swinging at pitches outside the strike zone at a career-best rate of only 16 percent, though his 25 percent hard-contact rate represents a career low. At worst, it looks like he's put in a floor and probably won't decline much further in 2017. In fact, his slash line of .250/.326/.434 nearly mirrors that of 2016, when he hit .256/.336/.430.
Apr 22 2017McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a homer, a steal, two walks and two RBI in Saturday's loss against the Yankees.McCutchen got the Pirates on the board with his first-inning homer of a game they'd go on to lose. He's hitting just .262 this month, and based on a small sample size, he's looking like the same hitter he was during his disappointing 2016 campaign. Until he shows signs of a breakout, he'll be difficult to count on as a fantasy starter.
Apr 19 2017McCutchen, who will bat third Wednesday afternoon, has 12 hits in 25 career at-bats against starter Michael Wacha.McCutchen is playing with a chip on his shoulder right now. He made several strong plays while patrolling center field for the first time in 2017 Tuesday. Given his career numbers against Wacha and an eight-game batting streak, McCutchen makes for an interesting choice Wednesday.
Apr 18 2017McCutchen will return to playing center field following Starlin Marte's 80-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, Bob Nightengale of the USA Today reports.The move back to center field should be fairly natural for McCutchen, as he'd spent his entire career at the spot prior to the 2017 season. However, whether or not McCutchen continues playing center field once Marte is eligible to return remains to be seen. Although his line is just .250/.291/.423 for the season, McCutchen has recorded a hit in eight consecutive games and notched six RBI over that span.
Apr 15 2017McCutchen launched a three-run home run -- his second homer in three games -- against the Cubs on Saturday.He celebrated Jackie Robinson Day in style, moving past Barry Bonds for fourth place in career home runs among Pirates with 176. McCutchen also extended his batting streak to seven games (8-for-24).
Apr 15 2017McCutchen is batting .275/.370/.375 in 40 career at-bats against Saturday starter Jake Arrieta.Arrieta has faced McCutchen more times than any other batter in the majors. The outfielder is seeing fewer fastballs (50.6 percent) than last season (53.8) and more changeups (13.6 versus 10.4). He holds a league-average .100 ISO and a modest five-game hitting streak (7-for-20).
Apr 13 2017McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Thursday's 4-3 loss to Boston.McCutchen is off to a mediocre start with just three runs, the home run, three RBI and a .250/.308/.361 slash line, and it's mildly concerning after he posted the worst campaign of his career in 2016. Still, McCutchen is locked into the heart of the order and deserves the benefit of the doubt considering his elite fantasy track record. It just might be unrealistic to expect him to fully rebound to his MVP level of production, and especially since the 30-year-old outfielder is probably nearing the end of his offensive prime.
Apr 7 2017McCutchen went 3-for-4 with one walk and an RBI against Atlanta on Friday.He hit the ball with authority Friday and crushed a foul ball down the left field line with plenty of home run distance. His effort was particularly encouraging after an 0-for-9 start at Fenway Park. McCutchen also looked spry on the bases, as if he was looking to run when possible. It's only one game, but he played much better Friday in the home opener.
Apr 3 2017McCutchen went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the season opener Monday in Boston.The outfielder, who batted third after trying out the two hole last season, stranded four baserunners. In addition, he misplayed a pair of balls in his new position, right field. It's only one game but the former NL MVP isn't off to a promising start.
Mar 28 2017McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer Monday against the Twins.He's hitting .263 in 19 Grapefruit League at-bats with one homer and one stolen base. His move to right field from center has gone seamlessly. McCutchen, who is batting third after struggling in the second spot for much of 2016, will look to get off to a good start. He's hit just .212 in 165 April at-bats in 2015 and 2016.
Mar 23 2017McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a walk Wednesday during Team USA's victory over Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic championship game.Cutch poked clutch RBI singles in the fifth and eighth innings as the United States went on to win 8-0, and the veteran went 5-for-21 with 5 RBI during the WBC. His fantasy stock may remain a bit undervalued in many circles, presenting a potentially profitable buying opportunity in mixed leagues.
Mar 4 2017McCutchen went 1-for-2 with an RBI single and a stolen base during his return to action Saturday against the Red Sox.The back issue was clearly never anything to worry about, as the 30-year-old felt good enough to play Saturday after dealing with some tightness earlier in the day. He'll head to the World Baseball Classic soon and shouldn't have any lingering issues moving forward.
Mar 4 2017McCutchen is nursing a tight back but expects to play Saturday against the Red Sox, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. The outfielder said his back was "a little tight when I woke up this morning."He wore a heat wrap on his lower back before Saturday's game. McCutchen has dealt with chronic knee issues throughout his career but has never made mention of back problems. The Pirates have little incentive to play him during a meaningless exhibition game, so if there's any question about his injury then he'll likely sit out. Otherwise, the tight back may simply indicate that the former NL MVP is now 30 years old.
Mar 2 2017McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a run Thursday against the Tigers.He has four hits (including two doubles) in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats thus far and has made a relatively easy transition from center field to right. McCutchen, who will soon leave for the World Baseball Classic, has enjoyed a quiet camp following a tumultuous winter.
Feb 14 2017McCutchen will bat third for the Pirates this season, MLB.com's Adam Berry reports.While the Pirates have understandably cooled on McCutchen's outfield defense, they will still rely on him to serve as a run producer in the three hole this season. He hit .268/.349/.450 with 15 home runs and five steals (on nine attempts) over 395 plate appearances in that spot in the lineup last season.
Feb 8 2017McCutchen is on the USA roster for the World Baseball Classic, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.He will be joined in the outfield by Adam Jones, Christian Yelich, and Giancarlo Stanton. After the Pirates announced he will move to the corner outfield in 2017, it will be interesting to see where manager Jim Leyland plays McCutchen during the WBC.
Feb 5 2017McCutchen will play right field for the Pirates in 2017.The Pirates are switching up their outfield alignment, with Starling Marte moving to center field and Gregory Polanco taking over in left. McCutchen had his worst defensive season in 2016 and at 30 years old, he is likely better suited at the corner outfield spot.
Dec 10 2016Speaking at the team's Piratefest on Saturday, McCutchen refused to blame thumb and knee injuries for his poor performance in 2016. "I just didn't have it," he told DK Pittsburgh Sports. "It just wasn't there. It had nothing to do with injuries. I didn't produce the way that I wanted to, that's plain and simple. I appreciate it, because people are like, 'Something's not right. Something's off. He has to be injured to not be performing.' Honestly, it was nothing. The performance just wasn't there."McCutchen is unsure whether he'll remain in center field. "Who knows if something changes," he said. "I don't know that, all the way. Hopefully we'll have a more definitive answer going into spring training. ... Center field, right, left, I'm just happy to be playing." The outfielder also cleared the air with GM Neal Huntington after hearing his name mentioned in trade talks at the winter meetings. "We had a good conversation and basically ended it on good terms and went from there," McCutchen noted.
Dec 8 2016McCutchen is increasingly likely to remain in Pittsburgh in 2017 with a move from center field to one of the corner spots, Jon Heyman FanRag Sports reports.With a trade market full of quality veteran outfielders, the Pirates may be changing course with McCutchen and considering dealing other pieces, perhaps prospects, from the organization instead. McCutchen's contract can keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2018 season, as he'll collect $14 million in 2017 before a $14.5 million option is on the table for 2018.
Nov 10 2016The Pirates and Washington discussed a deal involving McCutchen at the trade deadline last summer, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reports.Rosenthal believes the Nationals offered prospect Victor Robles but Pittsburgh wanted more in a deal that would involve multiple players. McCutchen, 30, performed poorly in 2016 but features a reasonable $14 million contract for 2017 and a $14.5 million option the following season. The Mets have also been rumored in trade talks for the outfielder, who may be asked to move from center field to right field in 2017.
Oct 1 2016McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.McCutchen has cooled off a bit over the last week after putting together a strong start to September, and he has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats. After a 1-for-4 effort Friday, McCutchen will get the day off Saturday, as the Pirates go with Gregory Polanco in center.
Sep 24 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a triple, two walks and a run in Friday's 6-5 extra-inning victory over the Nationals.The veteran slugger has salvaged his season in the second half, and is now slashing .318/.406/.612 with six homers and 18 RBI in 85 September at-bats. That tally includes four straight multi-hit efforts and a current 11-game hitting streak for McCutchen, who's also eclipsed the 20-homer mark for the sixth straight season.
Sep 21 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his 24th homer Wednesday against the Brewers.He's now hit safely in nine straight, going 15-for-39 (.385) with four homers and 13 RBI in that span -- vintage McCutchen production that we haven't often seen this season. It's probably too little, too late for fantasy owners who have been burned by the 29-year-old outfielder this year, but if he can carry this hot streak to the regular season's conclusion, he'll certainly raise his stock for next year. After all, McCutchen's still too young for the sort of precipitous decline he's had this season to be considered the new normal.
Sep 21 2016McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run double Tuesday against the Brewers.Since returning from a three-game benching at the beginning of August, McCutchen is hitting .283/.386/.476 with eight homers and 31 RBI in 197 plate appearances. His 29:29 BB:K is in stark contrast to the 35:107 he posted prior to August. The outfielder will look for a more complete rebound in 2017 at age 30.
Sep 17 2016McCutchen had only two hits in nine at-bats in Saturday's doubleheader but racked up five RBI against the Reds.He hit a couple other balls hard in the twinbill sweep. Following a week-long slump, McCutchen is 9-for-22 with three homers and 10 RBI. The outfielder has just three hits in 17 career at-bats off Sunday starter Dan Straily.
Sep 16 2016McCutchen went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and crossed the plate three times in Thursday's 15-2 shelling of Philadelphia.McCutchen's two solo shots increased his season total to 23, matching last year's total. Despite duplicating 2015's homer total, McCutchen still sits 30 RBI short of last season's total of 96, and his .250 average is more than 40 points lower than where it finished a year ago. The 29-year-old, now in his eighth MLB campaign, has also struck out 133 times this season, matching his career high mark set last year.
Sep 14 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in a 6-2 loss at the hands of the Phillies.The homer was McCutchen's 21st of the season, and broke a 2-for-20 slump over his previous seven games. It's been a disappointing season for McCutchen, who is just three years removed from an MVP season, and failed to be named an All-Star this year for the first time since 2010. He's hitting just .247 after hitting .314 and .292 in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Sep 13 2016McCutchen went 0-for-3 Monday and has one hit in his last 17 at-bats.He's drawn seven walks in six games, but his batting improvement -- he posted an .851 OPS from Aug. 5 to Sept. 6 -- has waned in the last week. McCutchen's lackluster defense has also continued to haunt the former NL MVP, who will turn 30 years of age in October. He's under contract through next season with an option for 2018, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Pittsburgh look to move McCutchen -- either in the offseason or during the 2017 campaign.
Sep 5 2016McCutchen hit his 20th home run of the season Monday in a 12-6 loss at the hands of the Cardinals.McCutchen now has six straight seasons with 20 home runs, although is batting average of .253 is way down from the .292 mark he posted a year ago. McCutchen has just 60 RBI on the year, a mark that can probably be chalked up to bad luck, considering the Pirates are top-five in the MLB in on-base percentage, and McCutchen is hitting .295 with runners in scoring position.
Sep 4 2016McCutchen hit a solo homer, going 1-for-4, in a loss to the Brewers on Saturday.The 29-year-old center fielder has definitely found his stroke as of late. He has a hit in 10 of his last 11 games, and he's reached base in 11 straight. McCutchen has been far more patient since his benching the first week of August. Since Aug. 5, he has 18 walks versus 17 strikeouts. He is hitting .253 with 19 homers, 58 RBI, 68 runs and six steals in 491 at-bats this season.
Sep 3 2016McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double in Friday's 1-0 loss to the Brewers.The veteran slugger is finally starting to hit his stride at the plate, now having reached safely in 10 straight contests. McCutchen has three multi-hit efforts over that span as well, along with three doubles, a homer and five RBI. Although his current .253 average sits a full 40 points below his career mark in that category, the 30-year-old has a strong chance of hitting the 20-homer mark for the sixth straight campaign with a full month of baseball remaining.
Aug 27 2016McCutchen (ankle) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.An awkward turn around third base Friday provided a bit of a scare, as McCutchen was favoring his left ankle immediately afterward, but he stayed in the game and will not be forced to miss a start. McCutchen is putting together his best month of the season, slashing .300/.424/.486.
Aug 27 2016McCutchen, who went 1-for-4 with a walk Friday, appeared to injure his left ankle while rounding third base but remained in the game.The outfielder tested his ankle following the end of the inning and everything checked out, but it may be something to keep an eye on. Remarkably, McCutchen's .250 batting average is the highest it's been since June 9 -- he's slashed .300/.424/.486 in 86 August plate appearances.
Aug 26 2016McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a solo homer and two RBI singles -- including the game-winning hit in the 10th inning -- against the Brewers on Thursday.He provided all the offense for the Pirates, including opening the scoring with his first-inning homer -- No. 18 on the year. Although this has been a highly disappointing season for McCutchen on the whole, we've seen a resurgence out of him recently -- over the last 13 games, he's hitting .333 with three homers, 11 RBI and a couple steals. It wouldn't exactly be shocking to see the long-time star streak to the finish line.
Aug 24 2016McCutchen is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Houston.The struggling outfielder doubled in a run in Tuesday's win over the Astros, but he'll take a seat Wednesday, marking his first absence from the lineup since August 4. Starling Marte will get the nod in center field, and he'll bat in McCutchen's usual No. 3 spot in the order.
Aug 23 2016McCutchen went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk and a run in Tuesday's 7-1 win over the Astros.McCutchen played a key role in Pittsburgh's four-run first inning, doubling in Matt Joyce before coming around to score on Gregory Polanco's single. His .244/.325/.409 line has been disappointing, but the 2013 NL MVP is still batting in the valuable third spot in the Pirates order.
Aug 23 2016McCutchen, who went 0-for-4 against the Astros on Monday, has just two hits in his last 16 at-bats.It looked like his struggles where past him after a successful West Coast road trip, but he's cooled off since returning to PNC Park. Despite working a three-balls-and-one-strike count Monday, he rolled over an outside pitch, resulting in a weak grounder to the left side of the infield -- indicative of both his lack of plate discipline and an unwillingness to go opposite field.
Aug 18 2016Although McCutchen sports a .472 on-base percentage and 12:8 BB:K since the Pirates benched him in the beginning of August, he doesn't believe the time off helped him. "I will forever tell you that (those) three days had nothing to do with what I'm doing," McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I would've done this regardless. I might have five more hits in three games. Instead of hitting .240, I could be hitting .260."He's slashing .317/.472/.512 in 53 August plate appearances, stealing three bases in four attempts. McCutchen has seen false glimmers of hope before in 2016, but the improvement in plate discipline is most encouraging -- prior to his August turnaround he held just a 35:107 BB:K. Look for a strong finish from the five-time All-Star.
Aug 17 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run as part of a six-run sixth inning that helped the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Giants.McCutchen is still hitting just .248 on the year, and is on pace for his worst statistical season since 2011, but has shown signs of life of late, hitting .346/.469/.654 in his last seven games. One potential reason why: despite his 17 home runs putting him roughly on pace for his average over the past five years, he's putting the ball on the ground more often, his 0.76 groundout to flyout ratio being the most extreme of his career.
Aug 13 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer, two RBI and his 5th stolen base of the season Friday against the Dodgers.He also made a highlight reel catch in center field. Since the Bucs benched McCutchen in early August, he's hit .273/.448/.409. He's also drawn seven unintentional walks in seven games. Prior to then he collected seven walks in 33 starts, an indication that his plate discipline is improving. McCutchen is 4-for-10 with a double against Saturday starter Brandon McCarthy.
Aug 6 2016McCutchen went 0-for-2 with a pair of walks and his fourth stolen base Friday.Following a three-game benching to unplug, the center fielder attempted two stolen bases with head-first slides -- an indication of his freshness (he returned to first base following a foul ball on the other attempt). McCutchen is still trying to find his way at the plate, however. He struck out looking with a runner on third base and one out in the eighth inning of a one-run game.
Aug 5 2016McCutchen is back in the lineup Friday against the Reds, Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.The five-time All-Star did not play at all during the Atlanta series, as the team looked to recharge McCutchen's batteries after a .204/.259/.296 start to the second half. McCutchen's plate skills have slipped this year, with his walk rate dipping by more than five percent while his strikeout rate has jumped in the wrong direction, but he's earned everyday at-bats for the Pirates and should remain active in most formats.
Aug 4 2016McCutchen is out of the lineup for Thursday's tilt with Atlanta.As expected, McCutchen is out of the lineup for the final game of the series with Atlanta Thursday. The 29-year-old showed frustrations that he wasn't dealt before the trade deadline and the Pirates wanted to give him several games off to reestablish a winning mindset heading into the playoff push. Starling Marte is making a start in center in McCutchen's absence.
Aug 3 2016McCutchen is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Braves, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen, who's gone just 4-for-21 (.190) over the last seven days, will sit out his second consecutive game. The Pirates will go with an outfield lineup of Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte, and Matt Joyce as they take on Rob Whalen and the Braves.
Aug 3 2016The Pirates are expected to keep McCutchen on the bench for both Wednesday and Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Including Monday's off day, that would give the center fielder four full days of rest prior to Friday's home game against Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has to hope the time away gives McCutchen enough of a break to re-set both on the field and off -- he was critical of the team's recent deadline deals.
Aug 2 2016McCutchen is not in the Pirates starting lineup on Tuesday against the Braves.McCutchen is hitting just .211 with 11 strikeouts over his last 38 at-bats. He will take a seat as Matt Joyce gets a start in the outfield on Tuesday. Expect McCutchen back in the lineup on Wednesday for the Pirates at Turner Field.
Jul 27 2016McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double, and four RBI in the Pirates' blowout win over the Mariners.McCutchen lead the offense while starter Gerrit Cole threw a dominating three-hit complete game. McCutchen entered the game mired in a 4-for-26 slump, which he broke out of with authority. Despite hitting just .241/.314/.405 entering Wednesday's contest, the Pirates have kept faith in their star centerfielder, continuing to bat him third in the order. Fantasy owners should keep faith as well, and hope Wednesday's performance is a sign of better days ahead for McCutchen.
Jul 24 2016McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.McCutchen will get the day off after making 15 straight starts in center field, and going 1-for-7 at the plate during the first two games of the series. A cold start for McCutchen has led into a July in which his OPS (.725) is the same Sunday as it was back on the first of the month. While the outfielder gets a maintenance day, Starling Marte will cover for him in center field, while Matt Joyce draws the start in right.
Jul 22 2016McCutchen reached base three times Thursday, going 2-for-3 with a walk.Typically this doesn't represent much news for a career .293 hitter, but Cutch has put up 0-for-5 and 0-for-8 efforts in two of his last three games. The free pass was just McCutchen's second in ten games -- his 8.7 percent walk rate is well below his career average of 11.8 percent. He compiled a 14.3 percent rate just one season ago.
Jul 15 2016McCutchen went 1-for-4 and stole his third base of the season Friday in Washington.The center fielder's stolen base was just his third in eight attempts and his head-first slide shows he might be getting a bit more aggressive on the bases. McCutchen holds a modest four-game hitting streak (7-for-16) with three extra-base hits as he tries to rebound from a miserable first half.
Jul 11 2016McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Cubs.The homer was his second in as many games and 14th of the season, and McCutchen closed out the first half with an impressive .314/.375/.543 line through nine July games. If he can stay healthy after the All-Star break, he still has time to put up some big numbers and justify his preseason ADP.
Jul 10 2016McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, three RBI and a run in Saturday's 12-6 victory over the Cubs.He evened things up at four apiece in the third with a 419-foot shot off Jon Lester, his first long ball since June 25. McCutchen came back to add the go-ahead runs in the next frame with a clutch single that plated Eric Fryer and Jody Mercer, snapping a 5-5 tie. The 29-year-old slugger now has consecutive multi-hit outings, and is slashing .313/.389/.469 overall in 32 July at-bats.
Jul 9 2016McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Cubs.It was the second multi-hit outing in the last four for the veteran slugger, who's endured a tough season at the plate and a variety of injuries this season. He's showing signs of picking it up so far in July, slashing .296/.387/.370 over 27 at-bats.
Jul 4 2016McCutchen (heel) will return to the lineup Monday according to manager Clint Hurdle, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.McCutchen's ailment must have proven to be minor, as he'll return to action after just one day off. He'll presumably return to center field for the afternoon matchup against the Cardinals.
Jul 3 2016Updating a previous report, McCutchen is out of the lineup due to a heel injury, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.Although the injury isn't expected to be serious, it's logical to consider the fact that some discomfort may have played a role in McCutchen's recent struggles. He'll get the day off Sunday to rest the ailment, and should be considered day-to-day heading into Sunday's matchup against the Cardinals. In his stead Sunday, manager Clint Hurdle will start an outfield composed of Adam Frazier (left), Starling Marte (center) and Matt Joyce (right), while Gregory Polanco serves as the DH.
Jul 3 2016McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics.Even with the DH option possible while playing in an AL ballpark, McCutchen will get the day off while Starling Marte gets the nod in center field. The veteran received just two days off in the month of June, and with back-to-back day games on tap, the timing was right for a maintenance day Sunday. McCutchen batted just .202 in the month of June, but has so far hit safely in two July games.
Jun 27 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.McCutchen's double was an integral part of a four-run first inning off starter Scott Kazmir, but he and the rest of the Pirates offense failed to generate much in the rest of the contest. The five-time All Star is having a subpar season by his lofty standards, but is starting to heat up a bit with a pair of multi-hit efforts in his last last three games after logging just one in his previous 16.
Jun 25 2016McCutchen's thumb has played a role in his current slump, according to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.McCutchen aggravated a pre-existing thumb injury in early June, but didn't miss much time as he played through the pain. Since the injury, he's hit .197 (14-for-71) in 19 games. The thumb has improved, but Sawchik says the injury led to poor results and a loss of confidence. Confidence doesn't appear to be an issue Saturday, as he's already hit two homers in consecutive at-bats against the Dodgers.
Jun 23 2016McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday against the Giants, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.The veteran will get the day game off Thursday, as the Pirates look to do anything that will get him going at the dish. His slash line has fallen to .238/.315/.401, and while he got off to a slow start in 2015 as well, he had already turned things around at this point last year. Gregory Polanco will start in center field and hit third while Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez occupy the outfield corners.
Jun 16 2016McCutchen batted third in the lineup for the first time in 2016 on Wednesday, going 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts.He's currently in an 0-for-17 slump and is slashing .140/.204/.160 in 50 at-bats during June. McCutchen's 24.9 percent strikeout rate is well above his career mark of 17.7 percent but the Pirates are hoping a move into a more comfortable three-hole will jumpstart the center fielder's season. He says he's fully recovered from a thumb injury, but the results just aren't there.
Jun 16 2016McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer in a 6-4 loss to the Mets on Thursday.He'd been 0-for-15 over the prior four games, so it's nice to see this from McCutchen, but performances of this ilk have been few and far between for him this year. His last three-hit game was nearly a full month ago (May 17) and he's still carrying an abysmal .242/.319/.418 line with a reasonable total of 10 homers, but only one steal all season.
Jun 16 2016McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and his 10th homer Thursday against the Mets.The home run was his first since May 27, while his double hit off the left field fence -- a hopeful sign of things to come. McCutchen, who batted third in the lineup for the second straight game, entered Thursday with one extra-base hit in the month of June.
Jun 8 2016McCutchen went 2-for-8 with a double in Tuesday's twinbill against the Mets. He also struck out four times.McCutchen is wearing a guard to protect his thumb, but it's obvious he's less than 100 percent at the plate. In a perfect world, the team would rest the center fielder for at least a couple games. Starling Marte's absence from the lineup make that scenario unlikely, however. McCutchen has struck out two times in each of the last four games and holds a .759 OPS -- the lowest mark of his career.
Jun 5 2016McCutchen is out of the lineup SUnday against the Angels.McCutchen will get a rare day off -- in fact, it is just his second since the beginning of May. Although the center fielder is starting to bounce back from some early-season struggles, he is just 2-for-14 over four games since the beginning of June. While he takes a seat, Starling Marte will cover for him in center, while Matt Joyce gets the nod in right with Gregory Polanco in left.
Jun 4 2016McCutchen (thumb) went 1-for-4 with a hard-hit single to left field Friday.The center fielder is wearing a thumb guard to help protect further injury and it looks as though he'll continue playing through the injury. McCutchen whiffed two more times Friday, giving him an uncharacteristically poor 4:21 BB:K in his last 19 games.
Jun 3 2016McCutchen (thumb) is in the lineup Friday and hitting second against the Angels.He aggravated a pre-existing thumb injury in Thursday's game, but will attempt to play through any lingering discomfort. McCutchen probably isn't 100 percent healthy, so that should be noted when contemplating deploying him in daily leagues, but with Jered Weaver and his 5.40 ERA on the mound for the Angels, it's an appealing matchup nonetheless.
Jun 2 2016McCutchen left Thursday's game in the sixth inning with right thumb discomfort.After lining out to short in the top of the sixth, McCutchen was replaced in center field by Starling Marte in the bottom of the frame, with Sean Rodriguez taking over in left field. The Pirates have not given any hint as to the severity of the injury, so McCutchen's availability for Friday's series opener against the Angels and the rest of the weekend is uncertain.
Jun 2 2016McCutchen aggravated a pre-existing thumb injury in Thursday's game against the Marlins, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.Fortunately, McCutchen told MLB.com's Adam Berry that he didn't consider the issue to be one that would require a stint on the disabled list. However, thumb injuries can obviously affect a player's ability to grip the bat, so McCutchen may have to battle through more discomfort until the soreness eventually subsides. He figures to be back in the lineup Friday, but if Clint Hurdle opts to give the star outfield the day off, Starling Marte could slide over to center while Matt Joyce takes over in left.
Jun 2 2016McCutchen was lifted from Thursday's game in the bottom of the sixth inning, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.There was nothing obvious that led to McCutchen's departure, but considering the context -- the Pirates were being no-hit at the time of his exit -- it seems some sort of ailment is in play. Starling Marte moved to center field to replace McCutchen as Sean Rodriguez came into the game to man left.
May 29 2016McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI against the Rangers on Sunday.The center fielder continues to struggle this season with a career-low .803 OPS in 194 at-bats, but he seems to be figuring this out of late. McCutchen has hit safely in nine of the past 11 games, and even though he's hit a mere .244 over that span, the fact that he's making contact suggests his numbers should improve sooner than later.
May 28 2016McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI against the Rangers on Friday.Both of his hits were of the opposite field variety, a good sign, though he whiffed his other three trips to the plate. In fact, his current strikeout rate (23.3 percent) is much higher than his career rate (17.6 percent) and his .811 OPS is the lowest in eight seasons.
May 25 2016McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run and two strikeouts against Arizona on Wednesday.The 2013 NL MVP has hit safely in six of his last seven games, and has gone 10-of-30 over that span. The talented center fielder has yet to gone in one of his patented streaks, but he seems to be heating up on May to the tune of a .294 average.
May 24 2016McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.McCutchen has had a disappointing campaign by his lofty standards, but he's still very much a fantasy asset. While he hasn't been a threat on the base paths this season, the 2013 NL MVP should still score plenty of runs as an integral part of a top-five Pirates offense.
May 21 2016McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Rockies.McCutchen will get a rare day off as the Pirates go up against Colorado right-hander Tyler Chatwood. Starling Marte will get the nod in center field, while Matt Joyce starts in right and Gregory Polanco starts in left.
May 18 2016McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI in Tuesday's 12-9 win over the Braves.McCutchen was one of seven Pirates to finish with multiple hits on the evening. After a mediocre April, McCutchen is beginning to settle in nicely in May, hitting 18-for-60 (.300 average) to go with three homers, eight RBI and 10 runs over 14 games this month.
May 18 2016McCutchen is 5-for-12 with a double and two homers against Wednesday starter Julio Teheran.The center fielder is slashing .327/.365/.571 in his last 11 games and yet still hasn't really gone on one of his patented hot streaks. McCutchen hopes to continue his success Wednesday against Teheran.
May 14 2016McCutchen extended his batting streak to eight games Saturday, going 1-for-4 with a double against the Cubs.He's hitting .382 in 34 at-bats over his hot streak, which includes four doubles and two dingers. McCutchen might struggle a little bit Sunday. He has just two singles in 16 career at-bats against starter Jon Lester.
May 13 2016McCutchen was 3-for-5 with a run scored and a two-run home run in a losing effort against the Cubs on Friday afternoon.The home run, his eighth of the season, came with two outs in the ninth inning, proving to be too little, too late. However, McCutchen, who got off to a very sluggish start, now has his average up to a steadily improving .261, and is showing clear signs of breaking out. An offensive explosion could very well be imminent for the extremely talented centerfielder.
May 11 2016McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo homer and a walk Wednesday against the Reds.He's rounding into form after dealing with an early slump, with hits in six consecutive games lifting his average from .221 to .248 and his OPS back over the .800 mark. By the time the dust settles on this season, McCutchen should be sporting the numbers we've come to expect from him -- 20-plus homers and an average over .300 with plenty of counting stats. However, his steal totals have declined in each of the last two seasons, and as he approaches his 30th birthday (it's in October), McCutchen seems not to be a reliable source of speed anymore.
May 2 2016McCutchen, who went 1-for-4 with a walk and run scored Sunday, appeared to tweak a knee while sliding into home plate -- though he stayed in the game.He stuck in the wet dirt and was attended to by the team's trainer. Since socking three homers in one game against Colorado, the center fielder has just three hits in his last 17 at-bats. McCutchen is too good to be sitting at .227 much longer. He's certainly happy to put April in the rear view mirror: he's compiled his worst career numbers in the month (.255/.343/.423).
Apr 26 2016McCutchen slammed three home runs as part of a 3-for-5 game with five RBI in Tuesday's win over the Rockies.Whether it was Monday's day off or a chance to hit at Coors Field, something woke up McCutchen's bat in a big way. McCutchen entered Tuesday with a brutal .213/.337/.347 line and exited hitting .238/.351/.475. With a player as talented as McCutchen, we knew it was just a matter of time until he figured it out. McCutchen has posted at least a .290 batting average, .400 on-base percentage, and .480 slugging percentage in each of the past four seasons.
Apr 25 2016McCutchen went 1-for-6 with four strikeouts Sunday against the Diamondbacks.He's struggling right now, with opposing pitchers challenging him with 92-mph fastballs -- and winning. McCutchen has whiffed 19 times in his last 12 games and has just six extra-base hits in 89 at-bats in 2016. Manager Clint Hurdle has started him in each of the team's first 19 games, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him get a day off in the near future. That said, Monday's begins a four-game set in hitter-friendly Colorado, which could be the perfect tonic for McCutchen's slump.
Apr 25 2016McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Monday night against the Rockies, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.It's McCutchen's first day off of the 2016 season. Starling Marte will slide over to play center field, while Matt Joyce draws into the lineup and hits second for the Pirates on Monday against Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis.
Apr 21 2016McCutchen, who went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts Wednesday, is batting .059 in 17 at-bats with runners in scoring position.He's hit a pair of solo homers in the past week but has otherwise struggled, striking out 12 times in eight games. McCutchen is slashing .237/.348/.407 in the early going. He's gone 1-for-4 with a pair of walks against Thursday starter James Shields.
Apr 19 2016McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a walk, while also scoring twice and stealing his first base of the season Tuesday in San Diego.Those who drafted McCutchen for his combination of power and speed were surely starting to get a little antsy, but he has quelled any fears with a pair of homers and a steal in the last three games. The 2013 NL MVP swiped just 11 bags in 2015 after getting at least 18 in each of his six previous seasons, but it'd be shocking if he didn't end up breaking double digits once again at age 29.
Apr 17 2016McCutchen went deep Sunday for his second homer in as many days against Milwaukee.Unfortunately for fantasy owners, the solo home run was his lone hit in six official at-bats -- he twice was retired with the bases loaded. McCutchen is also still looking for his first stolen base after being thrown out for the second time in two attempts Sunday.
Apr 13 2016After going hitless with two strikeouts in four at-bats Tuesday, McCutchen is batting .258 with no homers and one RBI.Batting second, McCutchen is tied with the Dodgers' Adrian Gonzalez for the league lead in plate appearances (37). He's just missed hitting several homers, but his soft contact percentage (25.9 percent) is nearly double his career norm (13.7 percent). McCutchen is looking to start strong after a slow start last season but so far the results have been ordinary.
Apr 6 2016McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double Tuesday against St. Louis.He was thrown out at the plate on a curious call. McCutchen tried scoring from second base on a single to right field with no outs. The Pittsburgh coaching staff promised to be more aggressive following the loss of home run hitters Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker but may have gone a little overboard sending Cutch. For his part, McCutchen is seeing the ball well and looking to carry over his strong spring into regular-season action.
Mar 26 2016McCutchen (quad) will bat second and play center field Saturday against Tampa Bay, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.The outfielder missed Friday's game and the two-hour bus ride to Fort Myers but will play against the Rays. Manager Clint Hurdle continues to bat McCutchen second in the lineup, an indication that the team's best hitter will likely hit in the spot to start the regular season.
Mar 25 2016McCutchen was scratched from Friday's lineup as a precaution due to tightness in his quadriceps, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.Again, the scratch is more precautionary than due to a significant ailment, so this is likely only a short-term concern. The Pirates have split squad games on Saturday, so he could return then.
Mar 23 2016McCutchen hit his fifth spring homer in seven games Wednesday against Baltimore.McCutchen appears to be taking a liking to batting second in the lineup. Either that, or his knee is healthier than it was at this time last year. Whatever the case, all systems appear to be go for the 29-year-old. McCutchen has only scored 100 runs in a season once and has never batted in 100 runs; that could change with the 20 or 30 extra at-bats he could see while batting second.
Mar 11 2016McCutchen stroked his first dinger of spring training Friday, giving him two hits in 13 Grapefruit League at-bats.The homer is a positive sign, considering he's a slow starter and didn't go deep in 32 spring training at-bats last year. Pittsburgh has lost two of its lefthanded power threats in Pedro Alvarez and the switch-hitting Neil Walker, making it possible McCutchen will see less pitches to hit. John Jaso and Gregory Polanco are the only two lefties projected to start as positional players for Pittsburgh.
Oct 3 2015McCutchen went 3-for-5 with his 23rd homer Friday against the Reds.The dinger was his first since Sept. 10 and the RBI was his first in 12 games. Cutch finished September with an unusual .237/.405/.340 slash line as opponents pitched around the center fielder. It's possible Pittsburgh rests him Sunday if the team clinches home field advantage for the Wild Card on Saturday.
Sep 28 2015McCutchen has four hits in his last 25 at-bats and has walked 16 times in his last nine games.Opponents are pitching more carefully than ever to McCutchen, who has only two RBI in his last 13 games. He did steal his fourth base in 14 contests Monday after totaling seven steals during the first five-plus months of 2015.
Sep 22 2015McCutchen went 0-for-2 with three walks in Pittsburgh's 9-3 win over Colorado on Tuesday.In a showing of respect, opponents have issued eight walks to McCutchen in the last three games. The center fielder also stole his 10th base of the season Monday, giving him three swipes in his last seven tilts. He's 4-for-12 with a homer and three RBI for his career versus Tuesday starter Chris Rusin.
Sep 20 2015McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and two RBI in a 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Saturday.McCutchen was seeing the ball well tonight out of Kershaw's hands, as his first out was a stinger to the right fielder. In his second at-bat, he hit the ball in almost an identical fashion, but was rewarded with a double. This is why he is an annual MVP candidate and he's making a case yet again for the coveted award. The only down statistic for McCutchen this year are the steals, as he has just nine, which is half of his previous career-low.
Sep 20 2015McCutchen went 1-for-1 with a career-tying four walks Sunday against the Dodgers.The perennial MVP candidate has recorded 95 RBI (one fewer than his career high), giving him a good shot at reaching the 100-RBI mark. He also has stolen two bases in his last six starts and needs one more to reach double digits.
Sep 17 2015McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.The star center fielder's average dipped below .300 after he struck out four times in Wednesday's game. A game that bad for a player of McCutchen's caliber is pretty rare, so manager Clint Hurdle obviously felt he needed to give him the day off. Starling Marte shifts to center field with Travis Snider starting in left.
Sep 11 2015McCutchen went 1-for-6 with a solo home run in a 6-4 loss to Milwaukee on Thursday.It's been quite the year for the annual MVP candidate and with how good the Pirates have been this season, he may have a good shot at the award this season. While the one-hit game lowered his average below .300, he still has provided elite numbers across the board. The only worry are the steals, as he has just seven in 11 attempts this season. That will be a career-low by a significant margin and it remains to be seen if that'll continue to be a part of his game going forward.
Sep 5 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored Friday in St. Louis.A day after sitting out due to a sore Achilles', McCutchen showed no signs of injury -- he even legged out a late-inning infield single. The Bucs took him out in the bottom of the ninth inning but that was likely because the team held an eight-run lead.
Sep 4 2015McCutchen (Achilles) is back in the lineup Friday against the Cardinals.The news comes as little surprise, as manager Clint Hurdle had already indicated McCutchen would return to the lineup "unless he miss the flight." He'll assume his usual spot in center field and hit third in the lineup. McCutchen is 3-for-16 with a double and a dinger against starter Carlos Martinez.
Sep 3 2015McCutchen is not in the lineup Thursday.It's unclear whether the newly minted NL Player of the Month for August is dealing with an injury, but Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Gazette reports that McCutchen appeared to tweak something while running to first base Wednesday night. The Pirates are yet to comment on the situation, so consider McCutchen day-to-day until further notice. Pittsburgh will go with Starling Marte in center field Thursday. He'll be flanked by Josh Harrison in left and Gregory Polanco in right.
Sep 3 2015Manager Clint Hurdle said McCutchen (knee) will return to the starting lineup Friday in St. Louis "unless he misses the flight," Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Hurdle said that McCutchen's left knee has been bothering him for the last five or six days. Pittsburgh had a chance to bundle two off-days with a Sunday afternoon start and Monday's day off, but instead the team rest August's NL player of the month Thursday.
Sep 1 2015McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a double that hit high off the right-center field wall Tuesday.He was knocked down by a Jimmy Nelson fastball later in the contest and seemed to tweak his back. The center fielder stayed in the game but appeared to be playing at less than 100 percent. It might be a good idea to make sure he's in the starting lineup Wednesday before inserting him into daily league lineups.
Aug 26 2015McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a double, his 20th homer and four RBI in Wednesday's win over Miami.With four consecutive multi-hit games and seven in his last nine, McCutchen has lifted his average back to .300 after mostly lingering in the .290s since the All-Star break. He's been racking up plenty of extra-base knocks, too, with four doubles and two homers in his last six games. The decline in his speed contributions is certainly certainly disappointing, but McCutchen's still one of the better hitters in the game.
Aug 25 2015McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI Monday, giving him five multihit efforts in his last seven games.He also has 81 RBI and is on pace for his first 100-RBI season. Although McCutchen has been thrown out twice in six games trying to steal a base -- he has six steals in 10 tries -- it's a good sign he's feeling healthy enough to run.
Aug 23 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4, hitting his 19th home run of the year, and drove in one run in a victory over the Giants on Sunday.McCutchen has been mired in a bit of a slump as of late -- 9-for-36 and three extra base hits since Aug. 12 -- but seemed to break out of it in the sixth inning with a home run off Jeremy Affeldt. The NL MVP candidate has seen his numbers dip a bit as of late, but he's still slashing .293/.395/.502 with 19 homers and 79 RBI.
Aug 16 2015McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mets, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.It's likely just a standard day of rest for McCutchen, who has been in the lineup for every game since July 20. He'll be available as a late-contest pinch-hitting option, but Starling Marte is set to pick up the start in center field.
Aug 9 2015McCutchen remained in the thick of the NL MVP race Sunday, going 2-for-6 with a home run and four RBI in a blowout win over the Dodgers.17 homers, 74 RBI, and a .911 OPS on the year for the former MVP. He continues to remain a top-10 fantasy option.
Aug 9 2015McCutchen went 3-for-3 Saturday with a walk and his sixth stolen base, raising his batting average to .300 for the first time since the All-Star Game.The stolen base was his first since June, perhaps evidence that his left knee is still not 100-percent healthy. McCutchen's .338 BABIP is his lowest since 2011 but his line-drive rate (34 percent) is well above his career average (23 percent).
Aug 6 2015McCutchen went 1-for-2 with two RBI and his 16th homer of the season Wednesday against the Cubs.In his last 77 games since May 7, McCutchen is batting .327/.425/.568 with 14 homers and 55 RBI. The center fielder is 6-for-19 with a dinger off Friday starter Clayton Kershaw.
Jul 31 2015McCutchen went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI Thursday against the Reds.Manager Clint Hurdle raised some eyebrows by leaving his superstar in for the entire game of a blowout loss, but fantasy owners are likely thankful as McCutchen collected hits in each of his final three at-bats. After the game, Hurdle said he kept him in because he ran out of players. One would think McCutchen's health would be a top priority for the playoff contending Pirates.
Jul 30 2015McCutchen, who went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBI Wednesday, isn't worried about his increasing strikeout rate, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The outfielder, who has struck out 20 times in his last 15 games, attributes his increased whiff rate to better pitching. "Things are going in the right direction," McCutchen said. "I'm not going to change anything. Most of the time it doesn't have to do with your swing. It has to do with the location of the pitches."
Jul 30 2015McCutchen launched his 14th homer of the season and drove in three runs while scoring two of his own in Wednesday's triumph over the Twins.McCutchen's .386 on-base percentage isn't quite on par with the over-.400 marks he posted in each of the last three seasons, but his RBI total has noticed a swift recovery after a slow start to the season. His total of 64 now ranks seventh in the National League.
Jul 29 2015McCutchen went 0-for-5 with a pair of strikeouts Tuesday against the Twins.In his last 14 games the center fielder is batting .214/.302/.393 with a 7:19 BB:K ratio. He continues to be susceptible to low, outside breaking pitches and his body language often suggests that something's just not right with the superstar. Still, he's playing everyday and the Bucs will need him down the stretch while they try to catch the Cardinals.
Jul 24 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his 13th homer Thursday against the Nationals.He also put the ball in play every at-bat after striking out an alarming 13 times in his previous 10 tilts. McCutchen will go up against Max Scherzer on Friday, who no-hit Pittsburgh the last time the teams met. The outfielder is 4-for-17 with a double and a homer versus the Washington pitcher.
Jul 22 2015McCutchen went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Tuesday against the Royals.He appeared to favor his left knee after slipping in the batter's box on a sixth-inning ground out to shortstop. McCutchen walked gingerly back to the dugout but stayed in the game. He continues playing at less than 100 percent while still putting up good numbers (.291/.390/.489).
Jul 19 2015McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Brewers.McCutchen will get a regular day off after manager Clint Hurdle said he wanted to rest his center fielder. Look for McCutchen to serve as the DH Monday in Kansas City as Hurdle bundles his days away from playing in the field. Starling Marte will move over to center Sunday, while Jaff Decker gets the starting nod in left.
Jul 17 2015McCutchen went hitless in four at-bats against Milwaukee on Friday.He entered the game with six hits in 16 career at-bats against starter Mike Fiers, including four homers and nine RBI. Manager Clint Hurdle reportedly offered McCutchen a day off Friday, but the All-Star center fielder refused. He has more career homers (14) and RBI (40) at Miller Park than any other road park as he looks to break out of a 4-for-24 slump.
Jul 7 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI Tuesday against San Diego.Padres left fielder Justin Upton robbed him of his 11th homer, but Cutch made a save of his own when he helped to rescue a grounds crew member who'd fallen into a whirling tarp during a rain delay. McCutchen extended his hitting streak to a career-high 14 games and lifted his batting average to .301, his highest mark since Opening Day.
Jul 5 2015McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk and two-run double Sunday against the Indians.The center fielder raised his on-base percentage to a season-high .391 Sunday -- he's finished the last three years with a .400-plus OBP. Despite a dreadful start, McCutchen's traditional fantasy numbers (10 HR, .297 BA, 51 RBI) aren't far off from 2014 in seven fewer games (13 HR, .322 BA, 53 RBI).
Jul 3 2015McCutchen was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a two-run home run in a losing cause against the Indians on Friday night.For most players, a .296 average with 10 home runs and 49 RBI at this point in the season would be considered very productive. For McCutchen, that's a bit disappointing, however, he does appear to be heating up so a big second-half is a very real possibility.
Jul 1 2015McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI Tuesday. He also reached base three times via walks.Perhaps most interestingly, he stole his second base in four games, giving him five for the season. He's feeling good and that typically means good news for fantasy owners. McCutchen followed up a .337 May batting average with a .330 mark in June, though he hit just two homers in 109 plate appearances.
Jun 28 2015McCutchen (elbow) will be in Sunday's lineup, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.The Pirates are yet to release a lineup, but manager Clint Hurdle confirmed that McCutchen will play Sunday. The center fielder departed Saturday's game after being hit in the elbow by a pitch, but X-rays returned negative, so he shouldn't be hampered in the long-term.
Jun 27 2015McCutchen left Saturday's game in the first inning after getting hit by a pitch.McCutchen appeared to be hit in either the elbow or back in his first at-bat Saturday, and he was forced out of the contest as a result. The hit-by-pitch was his second in as many days, and Jung-Ho Kang replaced him on the basepaths. The team will likely update his status and the nature of his injury at some point in the near future, but consider him day-to-day unless something indicates otherwise.
Jun 27 2015McCutchen exited Saturday's game in the first inning after being hit in the left elbow by a pitch, but X-rays came back negative and he will be re-evaluated Sunday.McCutchen left the contest immediately after getting hit, but thankfully the injury appears to be more minor than major. It's unclear how much time he'll miss because of the issue, but consider him day-to-day at this point.
Jun 24 2015McCutchen hit his ninth homer -- and just his second in 26 games -- Tuesday against the Reds.He's hit .340 (33-for-97) since May 25, but the lack of power was surprising. McCutchen hasn't hit Wednesday starter Mike Leake very well. Over a decent sample size, Cutch is batting .246 with two homers and six RBI in 61 at-bats.
Jun 17 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with an RBI single Wednesday against the White Sox.In his 943rd career game, McCutchen served as his team's designated hitter for the first time ever. His break from the outfield may be short-lived, however, as Wednesday's center fielder Starling Marte appeared to injure his left ankle late in the game against Chicago.
Jun 10 2015McCutchen (knee) went 1-for-4 with a double in his return to the lineup Tuesday.He flew out to the center field wall in the eighth inning, narrowly missing a game-tying two-run dinger. McCutchen still continues to battle a left knee injury, but he'll get a chance to rest it for the second time in four days with Thursday's off day.
Jun 9 2015McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.McCutchen was given a maintenance day Monday, but he's back in the lineup Tuesday, manning center field and batting third against Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann.
Jun 8 2015McCutchen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen is hitting a robust .422 since May 20, but he has appeared a little banged up of late, so manager Clint Hurdle felt it was a good time to give his center fielder his first day off since May 14. Starling Marte will slide over and cover center field for the Pirates on Monday night.
Jun 6 2015McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI double Friday in Atlanta.His march toward a .300-plus batting average continues, as he's now slashing .295/.382/.497. McCutchen's strikeout rate of 13.6 percent is the lowest of his career while his BABIP of .313 remains nearly 20 points below his career mark (.329). June has also been the center fielder's best month -- he's hit .326/.397/.542 over the course of his career. After a slow start, Cutch is back to his usual production.
Jun 3 2015McCutchen raised his season's batting average to .292 on Tuesday, going 4-for-5 while missing the cycle by a home run.He's up to .292/.379/.497 with seven dingers, 34 RBI and three steals. By comparison, McCutchen sported a line of .304/.425/.469 with five homers, 25 RBI and seven steals at the same time in 2014. It's possible Pittsburgh rests the superstar Wednesday in order to give him two days down with Thursday's off day.
May 29 2015McCutchen collected three hits, including a pair of doubles, in five at-bats against San Diego on Thursday.He's batting .333/.410/.588 with five homers and 18 RBI in 117 plate appearances over the past month. McCutchen's .291 BABIP remains well off his career mark of .337, suggesting there's more good things to come from the center fielder -- so long as he keeps his left knee healthy.
May 25 2015McCutchen went 2-for-3 with his third homer in four games and fifth in 11 contests Sunday afternoon.He nearly tripped after beating out an infield single in the third inning, wincing in pain. McCutchen stayed in the game and seems to be able to overcome whatever knee pain he feels. The .261 batting average is his highest since Opening Day as is his .823 OPS.
May 23 2015McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a double off the right-field fence and a run scored Friday.In the eighth inning, McCutchen was hit by an Erik Goeddel pitch in the back of the upper arm/shoulder area, but stayed in the game. It appears McCutchen will be okay for Saturday's tilt, though there's a chance the team could play it safe with him. He's batting .291/.374/.494 with three homers and 12 RBI in his last 91 plate appearances.
May 23 2015McCutchen went 3-for-4 on Saturday with two RBI and his sixth home run of the season.McCutchen is now hitting .361 (13-for-36) over his last 10 games with four home runs and 10 RBI, and the concerns over his knee and the poor start to the season are rapidly fading away.
May 20 2015McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a solo homer in Wednesday's loss to Minnesota.Can't put that one on Cutch. Despite having gone just 1-for-12 over the prior three games, McCutchen has been showing signs -- both at the plate and in the field -- that he may be over the knee issue that limited him in the early part of the year. He came into play May 7 hitting .188, but has raised his average a full 50 points to .238 in the weeks since. It wouldn't be a surprise to see it keep rising toward his typical .300 level.
May 14 2015McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a two-run single Wednesday night in Philadelphia.He also stole his second base in the last seven games. McCutchen is driving the ball once again and fantasy owners are breathing a sigh of relief.
May 14 2015McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Stephen Nesbitt reports.It would seem to just be a day off for McCutchen in the day game following Wednesday's night game. He has three hits, including a home run, in his last two games and also has four RBI and one stolen base over that stretch, so he could be starting to find himself offensively.
May 12 2015McCutchen launched his third homer -- a two-run shot -- Tuesday against Philadelphia.He's batting .409 (9-for-22) with five extra-base hits in his last six games. McCutchen has a homer and five hits in 19 at-bats against Wednesday starter, Cole Hamels, and is showing few signs of a left knee ailment which has hampered him throughout the early season.
May 11 2015McCutchen has two homers and three hits in six career at-bats against Monday starter, Jerome Williams.He enters Monday's tilt riding a four-game streak of doubles, as the power seems to be returning for the center fielder. McCutchen is batting .275 with an OPS of .701 in nine May games as he works his way around knee issues.
May 8 2015McCutchen was 2-for-5 with a run scored in a losing cause against St. Louis on Friday night.The notable part of this is the fact that he now has five hits over his last two games. McCutchen has struggled since Opening Day and the five hits only raised his average to .219 but its possible his bat is coming to life. The perennial all-star won't stay down long, and when he does break out, the numbers could be jaw-dropping.
May 8 2015McCutchen reached base four times Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.The outfielder also stole his first bag of the year, but it was an uncontested swipe of third base. McCutchen has three hits in nine lifetime at-bats against Friday starter, Michael Wacha.
May 7 2015McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a single Wednesday against the Reds.He misplayed a Todd Frazier double into a triple and generally continued in the malaise that's gotten him off to a miserable start. McCutchen now holds a .188/.279/.292 line while playing in pain with an injured left knee.
May 2 2015McCutchen is listed in Saturday's lineup despite tweaking his knee Friday in St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.He limped off the field after sliding awkwardly into second base during the ninth inning. "When I slid, my knee jammed into the base pretty hard," McCutchen said. "It wasn't comfortable, but after I gave it a little time to warm up, it was OK. I'm all right." McCutchen has two hits in three lifetime at-bats against Saturday starter, John Lackey.
May 1 2015McCutchen ended April with a .194 batting average in 72 at-bats, marking just the second time in his career he hit under .200 for an entire month.He looks to build upon Wednesday's game in which he went 2-for-5 with a two-run triple. McCutchen has shown off his sprinter's-like speed more frequently in recent games, a good sign, but it might not be too wise to expect much from him Friday. The center fielder is batting .143 (5-for-35) with 13 strikeouts against St. Louis starter, Lance Lynn.
Apr 28 2015McCutchen went 1-for-4 against the Cubs on Tuesday.Another game, another fly out to the center-field warning track for the outfielder with just two home runs in 67 at-bats. McCutchen was able to sprint down the first base line on a routine ground out, which may not sound like much, but it's an encouraging sign considering his early-season knee issues.
Apr 26 2015McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a sacrifice fly Sunday.He hit another 400-footl out, his third in the last two games. McCutchen is in the midst of a 1-for-17 funk, but holds a career .359/.471/.529 slash line at Wrigley Field, where he'll be playing starting Monday.
Apr 26 2015Although McCutchen is batting .151 (8-for-53) since Opening Day, Pirates GM Neal Huntington said Sunday that the outfielder has "no glaring holes or flaws."Speaking on his weekly radio show, Huntington said, "He's Andrew McCutchen, we're looking forward to one of his breakouts." The all-star, who looks heavier in his lower body this year, continues to deal with a nagging knee injury. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Rob Biertempfel noted how he limped noticeably after tracking down a that deep fly ball Saturday. McCutchen recently stated that he can still play well at 80 percent, but fantasy owners might not get the typical MVP type numbers they've come to expect from Cutch in 2015.
Apr 23 2015McCutchen struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance Thursday against the Cubs.The center fielder is batting .200 (10-for-50) and has more HBPs (three) than doubles (two). Look for McCutchen to return to the lineup Friday against the Diamondbacks.
Apr 23 2015McCutchen will not be in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cubs, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen is struggling to get things going early this season, so manager Clint Hurdle will give him a day off his feet Thursday. The Pirates have yet to announce who will start in center field in McCutchen's place, but one of Starling Marte (hand) or Gregory Polanco figures to slide over and handle the job for the day.
Apr 18 2015McCutchen is fine after getting hit in the arm Saturday.The pitch mostly got McCutchen's sleeve, but did hit some of his skin. McCutchen will not miss any time from the hit by pitch. He is hitting .212 on the season so far.
Apr 17 2015McCutchen was 1-for-4 with a run scoring double in the Pirates win over Milwaukee on Friday night.Notably, McCutchen was batting in the clean-up spot for only the second time since 2011 as the Pirates juggled their lineup to hopefully wake up a slumbering offense. With the 6-3 win, this lineup might be used for the foreseeable future, potentially providing McCutchen with a few extra RBI opportunities if the hitters in front of him can get on base with some consistency.
Apr 13 2015McCutchen (knee) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.McCutchen is dealing with persistent soreness in his left knee, but he will continue doing his best to play through the pain. As he regularly does, McCutchen will man center field and bat third for the Pirates on Monday.
Apr 12 2015McCutchen (knee) is back in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.A full game for McCutchen Sunday should be all the indication owners need that he can be treated as healthy going forward. He might be limited in the field, but that carries little fantasy impact.
Apr 12 2015McCutchen, who belted a three-run dinger Sunday, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review his left knee still isn't healthy. "My 80 percent is pretty good. I can play with that," McCutchen said. "The knee is going to be an everyday occurrence for me for who knows how long, but I can battle through it."McCutchen went 2-for-4 with the aforementioned homer and four RBI against the Brewers on Sunday. He removed himself from Friday's game after feeling left knee pain running to first base. It was initially believed he injured himself jumping against the center field fence. After one week, it doesn't look like Cutch's persistent knee injury will allow fantasy owners to simply set McCutchen on cruise control as in year's past.
Apr 11 2015McCutchen (knee) is out of the lineup Saturday against the Brewers.The lower-body issues continue for McCutchen, who left Friday's game with what was labeled left knee discomfort after battling soreness throughout spring training. It's troubling, but the Pirates haven't given any indication that McCutchen is worse than day-to-day. Starling Marte will move over to center field Saturday as Andrew Lambo steps in to left.
Apr 11 2015McCutchen (knee) said he was dealing with more than knee discomfort when he missed 10 games during spring training, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.For whatever reason, the outfielder declined to specify the nature of his injury. McCutchen said he feels confident he can avoid the disabled list, but the news of his health continues to worsen.
Apr 11 2015McCutchen (knee), who is not in the lineup Saturday, says he will not require a DL stint, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Travis Sawchik reports.He said the issue is not one of structural damage, but that he is simply dealing with knee soreness and he did not require a precautionary MRI. McCutchen felt something in his last at-bat Friday night, but said he could pinch hit Saturday if called upon. This knee soreness and general lower-body discomfort has bothered him since spring training, which is frustrating for him and his owners, but it sounds like he will avoid a DL stint, which is encouraging.
Apr 10 2015McCutchen left the ninth inning of Friday's game with left knee discomfort, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The center fielder missed considerable spring action due to lower-body soreness. He stole a career-low 18 bases in 2014 and might have difficulty reaching that total this summer.
Apr 9 2015McCutchen went 0-for-3 with a walk while stranding four baserunners Thursday against the Reds.The center fielder usually sprints down the first base line after hitting ground balls, but he hasn't given his typical max effort thus far. Whether that's because of poor weather conditions in Cincinnati or because he's still not 100 percent remains to be seen. McCutchen is 6-for-14 with four home runs against Friday starter, Mike Fiers.
Apr 6 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a game-tying two-run homer in Monday's loss to the Reds.McCutchen was also robbed of another hit in the first inning on a diving stop by Todd Frazier. For at least the first day of the season, concerns about his lower-body soreness have been quelled.
Apr 3 2015McCutchen went 3-for-4 against the Phillies on Friday.He left Wednesday's game after awkwardly slipping on home plate while running out of the batter's box, but showed he's ready for the season Friday night. McCutchen has 11 hits in his last 21 spring at-bats.
Apr 3 2015Manager Clint Hurdle said Thursday that McCutchen did not suffer any kind of disabling injury Wednesday. The center fielder slipped on home plate while running out of the batter's box. "He's fine," Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.McCutchen has had an awkward spring training, missing 10 games with an undisclosed lower-body injury and then leaving Wednesday's tilt while apparently holding his right side. Fantasy owners have to hope the center fielder is done with his spring dalliance of injuries.
Apr 1 2015McCutchen left Wednesday's spring game with an apparent injury, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports.McCutchen failed to run out a ground ball late in the contest, and did not take the field in the ensuing frame. It may be that the Pirates are taking a conservative approach with the regular season just around the corner, but it's a situation worth monitoring leading up to Opening Day.
Apr 1 2015McCutchen, who exited Wednesday's spring game, it not expected to be dealing with anything serious, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports.McCutchen was removed late in the game, but as expected, it was only for precautionary reasons. He apparently slipped on home plate ever so slightly, and did not want to over-exert himself just to be safe. The recent development here should have no effect on his fantasy value, as McCutchen remains a top-5 player in just about any format.
Mar 28 2015McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double Saturday against the Blue Jays.The star outfielder has started three of four games since coming back from lower-body soreness. He's still looking for his timing, striking out three times since returning, but all systems are go for McCutchen.
Mar 25 2015McCutchen (lower body) went 0-for-2 with a strikeout Tuesday after missing 10 Grapefruit League games, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen, who sprinted to make a fine, first-inning grab, declined to reveal the specific nature of his injury. "It was just overall lower body," he said. "That's it. Just being tight, not being myself. I'm just glad to be on the field again." The center fielder added he wouldn't have missed any time if the injury occurred during the regular season. "I would have been out there in a jiffy," he noted. It appears as though fantasy owners can take a deep sigh of relief.
Mar 23 2015Pirates GM Neal Huntington expects McCutchen to be in the Opening Day lineup "barring any setbacks" during the final two weeks of spring training, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen, who was seen Sunday with ice wrapped around his knee area, believes he'll have enough time to prepare for the opener April 6. "Man, I'll be ready," the outfielder proclaimed. Manager Clint Hurdle added that he expects McCutchen to return to game action in the coming week. He's not in Monday's lineup against Tampa Bay.
Mar 23 2015McCutchen (lower body) will be in the lineup playing center field Tuesday against the Orioles, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.He had an ice wrap on his knee Sunday and is not in Monday's lineup, but his return Tuesday is an excellent sign that he will be ready in time for Opening Day, as McCutchen has been claiming he would be.
Mar 21 2015McCutchen (lower body) is expected to go through baserunning drills Sunday, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.There is still no target date for McCutchen to return to Grapefruit League action, but manager Clint Hurdle said he is progressing, and baserunning work is typically the final hurdle a player must clear before returning to games. McCutchen has logged just 14 plate appearances in five spring exhibitions to this point, but he has said he could play if it were the regular season.
Mar 19 2015McCutchen isn't listed in Thursday's starting lineup against the Orioles.There continues to be no panic around the team, as McCutchen takes batting practice daily and walks without a limp. Still, knee soreness before the start of the season throws up at least a little red flag. Manager Clint Hurdle has yet to give a timeline for his return.
Mar 18 2015McCutchen (lower body) is not in Wednesday's starting lineup against the Tigers.The star center fielder has never missed action with a lower body injury this early in camp. "I'm taking my time," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Rather be safe than sorry." McCutchen has gone on record saying he could play if the games were in the regular season, but it's troubling that he's taken the field only once or twice this spring.
Mar 17 2015McCutchen (lower body) took part in Tuesday's team workout and said afterward that he feels fine, mlb.com reports.It seems the Pirates are just being cautious with their superstar center fielder. McCutchen did not say when he expects to get back in games, but he doesn't seem worried about his lower body soreness.
Mar 17 2015McCutchen (lower body) remains out of Tuesday's lineup, according to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.The Pirates continue to be careful with McCutchen -- who hasn't played since Thursday. A rare off-day Monday was not enough rest for the star outfielder. He did take part in batting practice and other drills prior to Tuesday's tilt against the Astros, a good sign.
Mar 14 2015McCutchen (lower body) will not play Saturday or Sunday, according to 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh.McCutchen has dealt with a balky knee throughout his career and was seen icing his left knee in recent days. He said he could play if it was the regular season, but fantasy owners have to be at least a tad concerned because the injury cropped up so early in camp and it's typically been an overuse injury in past seasons.
Mar 13 2015McCutchen was removed from Friday's spring training lineup because of lower-body soreness.This doesn't sound like anything serious, as the Pirates are likely just trying to play things safe. It'll only be a concern if McCutchen can't get back in the lineup within the next few days.
Mar 9 2015McCutchen is slated to start in center field Monday against the Twins.He hasn't played in the field since the Grapefruit League opener. As a designated hitter Saturday, McCutchen didn't run full speed after hitting a ground ball, fueling speculation that he might be dealing with a minor lower-body injury. His Monday start alleviates some of the fear he's playing at less than 100 percent.
Mar 9 2015McCutchen stroked his first hit (a double) of the spring Monday.He played six innings innings in center field, alleviating fears he's been nursing an injury. The Pirates have already come out and said that McCutchen will see more down time in an effort to keep him fresh throughout the entire season. He suffered a rib avulsion fracture in August and typically misses a game or two with a long-standing knee condition. That said, he's averaged 154 games over the past five seasons.
Mar 5 2015McCutchen went hitless in three at-bats as Pittsburgh's designated hitter Thursday against the Yankees.He was originally listed as the Bucs' starting center fielder Thursday but instead DH'ed against New York. The team gave no reason for the switch. McCutchen had no noticeable physical limitations running, though he obviously didn't make any throws. He's not scheduled to make the team's trip to Tampa Bay on Friday so the next chance to see him in the field will be Saturday.
Feb 25 2015The Pirates may rest McCutchen more frequently in 2015. "Andrew, like all those guys, wants to play," manager Clint Hurdle said. "But there comes a point where we want to maximize productivity," the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen, who averaged 157 games played in his first four full seasons, went on the disabled list for the first time in his career last summer (he still appeared in 146 contests). The team is deeper than in past years and will look to give the 28-year-old an occasional day off. On those occasions, Starling Marte will likely slide over to center field from left, with Andrew Lambo, Sean Rodriguez, Josh Harrison or possibly even Corey Hart taking the vacated outfield spot.
Sep 26 2014McCutchen went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Friday against the Reds.His 38th double tied his single-season high. McCutchen still needs two stolen bases to reach 20 -- a level he's hit in each of his five prior seasons. His .954 OPS leads all NL hitters and is narrowly better than his own career best (.953).
Sep 22 2014McCutchen, who has swiped at least 20 bags in each of his first five seasons, remains stuck on 17 stolen bases heading into the final week of 2014.He was picked off first and was caught stealing over the weekend. Look for the center fielder to be active on the basepaths in Week 26. McCutchen was hit by two Matt Garza fastballs Saturday and also collided with the center field wall, but hasn't missed any action. He has just four RBI in September, but holds a .329/.417/.534 line in 19 games. Keep in mind that Pittsburgh might choose to rest McCutchen after its playoff ranking is determined.
Sep 22 2014McCutchen provided all of the offense for the Pirates Monday, cracking a solo home run in Pittsburgh's win.McCutchen's solo shot was all the Pirates would need thanks to a strong start from Francisco Liriano. The center fielder has been consistently strong all season, collecting 24 home runs and 76 RBI.
Sep 11 2014McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored Thursday in Philadelphia.He was the object of a high and tight 96 mph fastball thrown by Luis Garcia. McCutchen narrowly avoided the bean ball to the head on a night when a number of fellow major leaguers weren't so lucky. On a positive note, McCutchen hasn't shown any noticeable effects of a rib avulsion fracture, racing around the bases during an inside-the-park homer Wednesday.
Sep 9 2014McCutchen went 3-for-4 and reached base four times Monday against Philadelphia, registering his third consecutive three-hit game.He continues to excel despite a rib injury. McCutchen, who ranks second in the NL behind Giancarlo Stanton with a .938 OPS, has a homer in three career at-bats against Tuesday's Phillies starter, David Buchanan.
Sep 6 2014McCutchen went 3-for-5 with an RBI on Saturday, registering just his second three-hit game since the All-Star break.McCutchen entered Saturday slashing .239/.323/.389 in 130 plate appearances since July 18. The reigning NL MVP continues to play with a rib injury, but the fact that he attempted to steal a base Friday bodes well for his general health.
Sep 1 2014McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, two runs scored and one double Monday against the Cardinals.The Pirates are trying to make a playoff push and McCutchen will need to continue to hit well if they are going to make it. He is now hitting .308 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI for the season.
Aug 30 2014McCutchen (rib), who has two singles in his last 10 at-bats, saw only 10 pitches in four at-bats Friday.It appears he's looking to hit the first decent pitch he sees, as every swing likely aggravates his rib fracture. It would be surprising to see McCutchen add to his 17 stolen bases, given his injury, but his mere presence in the lineup provides a boost to his team. It would be unwise for fantasy owners to expect MVP-like numbers from McCutchen in the short term.
Aug 27 2014McCutchen (left rib discomfort) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Cardinals.True to his word, McCutchen will man center field after he downplayed the injury that forced him out of Tuesday's game. The rib discomfort is an injury that McCutchen will likely have to negotiate on an on-and-off basis throughout the rest of the season, but it's unlikely to result in him missing any extended action.
Aug 26 2014McCutchen was lifted from Tuesday's game against the Cardinals after five innings with left rib discomfort.The aggravation presumably occurred in the third inning, when he crashed into the outfield wall tracking ball off the bat of Matt Carpenter. McCutchen will be re-evaluated Wednesday, but the Pirates could opt to hold him out of the finale against St. Louis, as to give him two full days to recuperate with the team off Thursday.
Aug 26 2014McCutchen, who left Tuesday's game with left rib discomfort, said he expects to play in Wednesday's series finale against the Cardinals, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen was pulled in the sixth inning of Tuesday's contest after he slammed into the wall earlier in the game, aggravating the injury that resulted in a stay on the DL earlier this month. The outfielder noted that he hasn't been fully healed since returning, and that on some days, the soreness is more persistent than others. The injury isn't something that should cost McCutchen much time the rest of the way while the Pirates remain in the race for the NL Central crown. McCutchen went 0-for-3 before leaving Tuesday, but he's otherwise hit pretty well since returning, smacking three homers in seven games.
Aug 25 2014McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Cardinals.McCutchen is heating up as he has a home run in three of his last four games. The Pirates will need him to continue to lead their offense as they make a run towards the playoffs.
Aug 24 2014McCutchen has six hits in 11 career at-bats against Sunday starter, Mike Fiers, including four home runs and nine RBI.He's 3-for-9 with a dinger in his last two games after going hitless in first eight at-bats off the DL. Make sure McCutchen is in your starting lineup Sunday.
Aug 22 2014McCutchen crushed his 18th homer of the season Friday, going 2-for-5 with his first homer since belting a pair in Cincinnati on July 12.McCutchen's 438-foot blast to right-center field stuck in the wheel well of a promotional Toyota, giving fantasy owners plenty of reason to ride out the season with Cutch. He's now hit 13 career homers in Miller Park, more than in any other road venue.
Aug 21 2014McCutchen is hitless in eight at-bats since returning from the DL, an indication that his timing isn't quite right yet.He saw a team-leading 21 pitches in four at-bats Wednesday but expanded the strike zone in hitter's count to help get himself out. A 96 mph fastball from David Carpenter nearly plunked McCutchen in the ninth inning, but the NL MVP was able twist out of the way without re-injuring himself -- a good sign going forward. McCutchen has 12 homers and a career .936 OPS at Miller Park where Pittsburgh plays its next three games, giving him a chance to get back on track. Since the All-Star break, the center fielder is batting .200/.321/.262 in 78 plate appearances.
Aug 20 2014McCutchen went 0-for-4 for the second straight day Wednesday following his activation from the disabled list Tuesday.There are some questions as to whether McCutchen will actually get back to 100 percent down the stretch, but it's very difficult to sit a player of his caliber even if there are lingering concerns about his health.
Aug 19 2014McCutchen (ribs) has been activated from the DL and is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves, the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.McCutchen, who has not played since August 3 due to a broken rib, will bat third and man his usual center field position. The reigning NL MVP took batting practice Monday and will look to pick up where he left off, as he hit the DL in the midst of an impressive four-game span during which he went 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, three walks and four RBI. On the season, McCutchen is hitting .311 with 17 home runs 67 RBI and 17 stolen bases.
Aug 18 2014Manager Clint Hurdle said that although the Pirates haven't made an official decision yet, he's optimistic McCutchen (broken rib) will return from the DL on Tuesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Tuesday marks the first day McCutchen would be eligible to return from the DL, and with the outfielder believed to be progressing swiftly from the broken rib, the Pirates will likely waste no time to get him back in their lineup. He participated in batting practice Monday and will likely have to complete his gamut of pregame activities with no concerns prior to Tuesday's game before the Pirates make an official decision on his status.
Aug 17 2014McCutchen (ribs), who has taken batting practice and has run the bases in recent days, is eligible to return from the DL as soon as Tuesday.He hasn't encountered any setbacks as he works his way back from an avulsion fracture of his 11th rib. As a result, it looks like fantasy owners in weekly leagues will want to activate the reigning NL MVP, even if he misses the first two or three games of Week 21.
Aug 16 2014McCutchen (ribs) was able to run the bases and even took batting practice Saturday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen is currently on the 15-day disabled list but is eligible to return on Aug. 19. Being that he still has a couple more days to test out the ribs, the Pirates' star returning on the 19th seems like a real possibility.
Aug 11 2014McCutchen (broken rib) is not in the lineup Monday.He will miss a seventh straight game with the broken rib, and Starling Marte will start in center field with Travis Snider in left. The Pirates still hope for McCutchen to avoid the DL, but he's going to come close to missing 15 days whether he's placed on the DL or not.
Aug 11 2014McCutchen (ribs) was placed on the 15-day DL prior to Monday's game vs. the Tigers, MLB.com's Tom Singer reports.The Pirates were initially expected to put McCutchen on the DL when he first suffered the broken rib on Aug. 3, but instead chose to wait a few days with the hope that their star would recover quickly. However, other than taking some swings and throwing from distance, McCutchen never showed enough progress to earn his way back into the lineup. With McCutchen sitting out each of the previous six games, he'll be eligible to return from the DL as early as Aug. 19. Gregory Polanco is expected to serve as the team's primary center fielder while McCutchen is out, with Josh Harrison covering right field for Polanco.
Aug 10 2014McCutchen (broken rib) remains out of the lineup Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Sunday will mark McCutchen's sixth straight day out of the lineup, but he was able to take some swings and throw from 90 feet Saturday. Manager Clint Hurdle described it as a big step forward, and it appears the Pirates are content to continue holding off on a DL decision to see how he progress in the next several days.
Aug 9 2014McCutchen (broken rib) remains out of the Pirates' lineup Saturday.Not much to see here, as McCutchen's status remains in limbo with the team waiting to see if he can make enough progress in the next couple days to avoid the DL. Manager Clint Hurdle said Friday that McCutchen has taken "a couple" of swings to test his level of pain with the broken rib.
Aug 9 2014McCutchen (rib) took swings and threw from 90 feet Saturday, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.According to manager Clint Hurdle, the activities are a big step for the star outfielder. A timetable for his return remains uncertain, but for now he continues to avoid a stint on the disabled list. Since McCutchen has not appeared in a game since August 3, the Pirates still have the luxury of backdating a DL stint, if they deem that to be the best course of action.
Aug 8 2014McCutchen has taken "a couple" of swings, according to manager Clint Hurdle, and the team will continue to be patient in regard to a DL decision, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. "We're willing to stretch [a] few more days on his behalf," Hurdle said.Despite the seemingly severe nature of McCutchen's injury -- a broken rib -- the Pirates remain hopeful that he can avoid the DL. The clocking is ticking, however, and if he doesn't make significant improvement by early next week, the team may be forced to add some reinforcements. Starling Marte will continue to man center field in his absence, with Russell Martin batting third.
Aug 7 2014McCutchen (oblique) is listed on the Pirates' lineup card as a reserve again Thursday, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Diagnosed with an avulsion fracture involving his 11th rib earlier in the week, McCutchen seems likely to wind up on the disabled list, but the team is still holding out hope that his condition will improve enough in the next few days to where he can avoid the DL. Starling Marte figures to continue manning center field in his absence.
Aug 7 2014Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Thursday that there remains "a chance" McCutchen (ribs) avoids the DL, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Initial reports suggested McCutchen could miss up to a month with the fractured rib, but he remains active for the time being. While Hurdle said the reigning NL MVP is improving, the team may not have a choice but to make a move if McCutchen isn't ready by early next week.
Aug 5 2014McCutchen (oblique) is yet to be placed on the DL, as he's waiting to see if his condition improves, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.It seems as though McCutchen is destined to hit the DL in the near future, but he continues to wait it out in hopes of finding a quick improvement. On top of the oblique injury, he's also dealing with some cartilage damage around his ribs. X-rays earlier in the week came back negative, which is a obviously encouraging, but McCutchen continues to experience discomfort that will keep him out of the lineup until further notice.
Aug 4 2014McCutchen (oblique) is expected to be placed on the disabled list, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.The Pirates are off Monday, meaning a corresponding move may not occur until Tuesday. Nonetheless, McCutchen is slated to miss at least three weeks and perhaps a month as a result of an apparent oblique injury suffered during an eighth-inning sacrifice fly Sunday. His spot in center field will likely be manned by Starling Marte, who is nearing activation from the concussion DL.
Aug 3 2014McCutchen left Sunday's game due to discomfort in his left side, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.The initial diagnosis isn't surprising, but McCutchen will likely undergo further testing. He hurt himself while reaching for an outside pitch, and may be dealing with an oblique injury.
Aug 3 2014McCutchen left Sunday's game with an apparent left oblique injury.He suffered the injury while reaching for a pitch off the outside part of the plate. McCutchen made it back to the dugout, but was seen walking up the tunnel with the assistance of the trainer. This could be bad news for the Pirates and McCutchen's fantasy owners.
Aug 3 2014McCutchen said after Sunday's game that X-rays on his side came back negative, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen initially thought he was cramping, but the injury may be something more serious, and the Pirates expect to know more Monday. The negative X-rays don't mean much, as McCutchen's likely dealing with a muscular issue. Should the reigning NL MVP miss time beyond Sunday, the Pirates might opt to use Josh Harrison in the outfield more often, which would in turn free up playing time at third base for Pedro Alvarez.
Aug 2 2014McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI against Arizona on Saturday.He also took a 95 mph fastball between the shoulder blades in the ninth inning, prompting the center fielder to slam his bat into the ground. After a frustrating post All-Star break slump, McCutchen has five hits in his last 11 at-bats. He also has three his in five career at-bats against Sunday starter Trevor Cahill and will be looking to take his frustration out over being hit by a pitch in the nine inning of Saturday's tilt.
Jul 29 2014McCutchen went 0-for-3 with a walk Monday against the Giants.He's hitting just .167 (6-for-36) with seven walks in 10 games since the All-Star break. Not even a weekend series in Colorado was enough to break the MVP out of his slump. He has just three hits in 16 career at-bats against Tuesday starter Tim Hudson.
Jul 24 2014McCutchen went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Wednesday against the Dodgers.The double -- which hit halfway up the right-center field wall -- was Cutch's first extra-base hit since the All-Star break. He's 5-for-22 in the last six games, with two RBI and a stolen base. An upcoming weekend series in Colorado figures to help put McCutchen back on track.
Jul 19 2014McCutchen went 0-for-3 with a walk Friday, stranding five baserunners against the Rockies.Not even McCutchen can come through every night. Opponents have begun to pound him low and inside with pitches, a dubious strategy against one of the league's best hitters. The center fielder entered Friday with a .324 batting average, 17 homers and 61 RBI after 49 games. A year ago, McCutchen had a .302 BA, 10 homers and 49 RBI after 49 contests.
Jul 12 2014McCutchen continued his reign of terror against Reds pitching Saturday, stroking a pair of homers -- one game-tying bomb in the ninth, and a game-winning shot in the 11th -- as part of a 3-for-5 night.Since 2009, nobody in the majors has more roundtrippers against Cincy than Cutch (20), who now has 17 on the season, five in the last eight games, and nine career multi-homer outings under his belt. The stud outfielder and reigning NL MVP has seven RBI and a pair of swipes in the last five games as well, as he's shown no signs of slowing in July after ripping it up in June (.343 average, eight homers, 25 RBI, five steals in 105 at-bats).
Jul 11 2014McCutchen is batting .350/.386/.650 with two homers and 10 RBI in July after winning NL Player of the Month honors for June.He's struck out nine times in his last 10 games, but Cutch's combination of speed -- three June steals -- and power gives fantasy owners a rare mix. His line drive rate is down year-over-year from 24.5 percent to 19.3 percent, but that has yet to slow McCutchen's pace.
Jul 11 2014McCutchen was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs scored, and a solo home run in a losing effort against the Reds on Friday night.Now hitting a robust .321 with 15 dingers and 59 RBI, the National League's Player-of-the-Month for June has carried that productivity over into July. The ultra-talented centerfielder is clearly one of the premier talents in the game.
Jul 10 2014McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBI and pair of stolen bases in Thursday's win at St. Louis.With 14 homers and 15 steals, McCutchen has a shot at the first 30-30 campaign of his career. Furthermore, he's on pace to put up better all-around numbers than last season, when he won the NL MVP Award.
Jul 9 2014McCutchen went 1-for-3 at the plate Tuesday, while clubbing his 14th home run of the year in the Pirates' 5-4 loss to the Cardinals.McCutchen continues to rake and is 12-for-29 in his last seven games with two home runs, two triples, two doubles and eight RBI. McCutchen now possesses a sterling .319/.419/.546 slash line on the year.
Jul 5 2014McCutchen lost his three-game streak of registering multiple hits Saturday, but he more than made up for it wit ha two-run homer.McCutchen has nine hits over the last four games, with a homer, a triple and two doubles. On pace for 24 home runs, 99 RBI, 86 runs and 24 steals, he's shaping up as a legitimate threat to repeat as NL MVP.
Jul 4 2014McCutchen was 4-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and his 13th stolen base in the Pirates rout of Philadelphia on Friday afternoon.He gave his owners a scare on Wednesday when he left the game with soreness in his foot, but he as played the entire game in both contests since, and with a double, triple, and a stolen base in this one he would not seem to be suffering from any significant injury.
Jul 3 2014McCutchen (foot) went 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Thursday's loss to Arizona.McCutchen left Wednesday's game with foot discomfort, but played all nine innings Thursday. Barring some sort of setback, he should be OK moving forward.
Jul 3 2014McCutchen (foot) is in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Diamondbacks, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.A foul ball off his left foot in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday prompted McCutchen's removal in the ninth, but evidently it was a very minor issue. He'll be in his usual spots -- center field and the No. 3 spot in the batting order -- to take on right-hander Brandon McCarthy, against whom he's 3-for-7 with a double in his career.
Jul 2 2014McCutchen left in the ninth inning of Wednesday's game with foot discomfort, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The center fielder fouled a ball off of his left foot in the bottom of the eighth inning and then had trouble running the bases after singling. McCutchen dealt with a left ankle injury earlier in 2014, though it's not yet known whether the two injuries are related.
Jun 29 2014McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.With an off day Monday, McCutchen will be afforded two well-deserved days of rest, after making 45 consecutive starts in center field for Pittsburgh. McCutchen will likely be an option off the bench Sunday, but if he is not used, he'll finish with a .343/.410/.686 batting line for the month of June.
Jun 28 2014The Pirates may give McCutchen a rest Sunday afternoon against the Mets, according to ROOT Sports in Pittsburgh.Pittsburgh doesn't play Monday, which would give the center fielder a two-day break, something manager Clint Hurdle likes to do with his regulars. The team hasn't announced the move, but it's something to keep an eye on.
Jun 23 2014McCutchen went 3-for-5 with two RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases Monday against the Rays.McCutchen continues to be an elite fantasy option as he provides production across the board with a .317 average to go along with 11 home runs, 45 RBI and 12 stolen bases.
Jun 14 2014McCutchen recorded his seventh straight two-hit game Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a three-run homer -- his 11th dinger of the season and seventh in June.It's almost unbelievable that the reigning NL MVP totaled two extra-base hits in 22 games prior to going on his June tear (16 extra-base hits in 13 contests). Savvy fantasy owners who acquired McCutchen at the end of May have been handsomely rewarded for their efforts.
Jun 12 2014McCutchen stayed hot Thursday, smacking a pair of doubles while driving in two runs.The superstar outfielder has at least one hit in 10 of 11 games during the month of June, as well as seven multi-hit performances. The addition of Gregory Polanco, who hit leadoff Thursday, can only help McCutchen's production, as his slow start to the season seems like a distant memory.
Jun 11 2014McCutchen went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer and two walks Wednesday night against the Cubs.McCutchen has caught fire, homering in three straight games to give him six total on the month. He's hit safely in nine of ten June games, including six multi-hit performances. The hot stretch has brought his season slash line up to .318/.434/.542, to go along with 35 RBI, 35 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
Jun 9 2014McCutchen, who has hits in six of seven June games, went 2-for-4 with a double Sunday.The center fielder looked as if he might be nursing a lower body injury when he pulled into second base on his double -- he stayed in the game, however. McCutchen has walked a league-leading 45 times as opponents continue to pitch around him.
Jun 9 2014McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI and one double Monday against the Cubs.McCutchen has been hitting for a lot of power of late as he has four home runs and six doubles over his last eight games. He went through a bit of a power outage, but that looks to be in his rearview mirror at this point.
Jun 6 2014McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in the Pirates' rout of the Brewers on Friday night.McCutchen has been hot over the past week, going deep three times in his last five games to push his season total to seven home runs. The multi-hit effort Friday pushed his season line to .301/.419/.489, and he's already added 50 points to his slugging percentage during the first five days of June.
Jun 2 2014McCutchen ripped two doubles and his fifth homer Sunday night against the Dodgers.His three extra-base hits represent one more than he collected in his previous 22 starts, combined. McCutchen also made a fine sliding grab and showed why he's become a perennial MVP candidate.
May 31 2014McCutchen, who went 0-for-3 against the Dodgers on Saturday, saw his batting average drop below .300 (at .298) for the first time since May 1.The reigning NL MVP has two extra-base hits (both doubles) and four RBI since May 13, a span of 18 contests. He hasn't been limping from a sore heel lately, but the results have disappointed fantasy owners. Given his track record, however, now might be the best time to pick up the five-tool talent in a trade.
May 28 2014McCutchen, who will bat third Wednesday afternoon and start in center field, hasn't homered in his last 127 plate appearances and holds a career-low .152 Isolated Power number.The outfielder hasn't hit a home run since April 24 (he has just four dingers in 2014). Of course, the spacious PNC Park has hurt those numbers, but that's of little help to fantasy owners. McCutchen's walk rate (17.6 percent) has spiked and his .896 OPS is in line with his career average (.871), but he might have to wait a while longer with the power numbers as Pittsburgh travels to Los Angeles and San Diego following Wednesday's game at Citi Field.
May 22 2014McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI, walk and stolen base in Thursday's 3-1 win against Washington.McCutchen also made a great sliding catch with two outs and a pair of runners on base in the ninth inning, preserving the win for the Pirates. His power hasn't come around yet this season, but he's been productive in other ways, hitting .319 with 23 RBI and seven steals.
May 21 2014McCutchen went 2-for-3 with an RBI single and a walk Tuesday against Baltimore.The outfielder leads the National League with 35 walks. He's still not moving well in the outfield -- due to a balky left heel -- but the team has given no indication that he'll get a rest. McCutchen is now batting .308/.431/.472 with four homers, 20 RBI and six steals in 159 at-bats.
May 17 2014McCutchen (foot) is in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees.McCutchen's foot become sore toward the middle of Thursday's game against the Brewers, but the 27-year-old shook off the trainers and played out the remainder of the contest. He even stole a base in the eighth inning, so there was never a whole lot of concern, but mother nature helped out and provided McCutchen with a day of rest with a rainout Friday.
May 15 2014McCutchen sustained a sore foot in Thursday's loss to the Brewers, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. The outfielder sustained the injury while racing to first base during his at-bat in the fourth inning.McCutchen shook off the trainers when they attempted to check on him during the game, playing out the remaining five innings. He would later steal a base in the eighth inning, so it doesn't appear there's much to worry about, though manager Clint Hurdle could look to give him a day off over the weekend.
May 15 2014McCutchen went 0-for-3 with a walk Thursday, and stole his fifth base of the season against Milwaukee.McCutchen is dealing with a sore left heel. He's fine when he runs, but limps when he walks. The center fielder continues to play through the injury, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Bucs give him some time off when Starling Marte returns to the lineup. At the least, the heel injury is something fantasy owners will want to keep an eye on.
May 11 2014McCutchen (ankle) is back in the lineup on Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen missed Saturday's game with a sore ankle he suffered in Friday's game but expected to be back for Sunday. That now appears to be the case, as he is in his normal spot on the field and in the lineup.
May 11 2014McCutchen (ankle) is back in the lineup Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen missed Saturday's game with a sore ankle he suffered in Friday's game. He is back in the in his normal spot on the field and in the lineup on Sunday.
May 10 2014McCutchen is not in the lineup Saturday against the Cardinals.With McCutchen owning a poor track record -- .385 OPS, 10:0 K:BB ratio -- against Cardinals starter Lance Lynn, Saturday makes sense for the reigning MVP's first off day of the season. From left to right, the Pirates will go with an outfield of Jose Tabata, Starling Marte and Josh Harrison.
May 10 2014McCutchen, who missed Saturday's game with "left foot soreness," expects to be back in the lineup Sunday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen said he couldn't nail down exactly when he hurt his foot/ankle, but he did hit his feet hard into the center field wall while trying to catch an Allen Craig homer Friday.
May 10 2014McCutchen is out of Saturday's lineup due to a sore ankle, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The severity of the injury is unknown, but it's now clear that McCutchen wasn't held out merely to rest. While the star outfielder is likely just day-to-day, fantasy owners will want to keep a close eye on the situation, as McCutchen is known for his durability and typically plays through minor issues.
May 10 2014McCutchen, who is not in Saturday's lineup, may be dealing with a sore leg, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The Pirates haven't reported an injury, but McCutchen rarely gets a day off. On the other hand, he's been awful against the Cardinals' Lance Lynn, so Saturday would be the right time to rest the star outfielder, whether he's healthy or not.
May 5 2014McCutchen went 4-for-7 with two runs scored, one double and one triple Monday against the Giants.McCutchen has at least one hit in five of his last six games and has increased his batting average from .286 to .317 over that stretch. He looks to be returning to his MVP form.
May 2 2014McCutchen went 3-for-7 with a double and three walks against the Orioles on Thursday.Aside from a couple injury scares, McCutchen is humming along with a .295/.427/.505 line in 2014. A 24:23 BB:K ratio indicates how opponents continue to pitch around the center fielder. He has four homers and three stolen bases. All of Cutch's four dingers have come at home, where the Bucs begin a nine-game home stand Friday.
May 2 2014McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double and his fourth stolen base Friday against the Blue Jays.He continues to slide head-first when stealing bases after going primarily feet-first prior to 2014. It's working, as the center fielder is now 4-for-4. McCutchen has been caught stealing at least 10 times in each of the past four seasons, so any improvement could help boost his stolen base total in 2014.
Apr 23 2014McCutchen has hit two of his season's three homers in the last two nights, going 5-for-6 with three walks.In a sign that he's seeing the ball well, McCutchen has gone deep to the opposite field with both of his dingers. Pitchers continue to try to work around him, as evidenced by his 18:16 BB:K ratio. McCutchen has two hits in 10 career at-bats against Alfredo Simon, the Reds' Wednesday starter.
Apr 21 2014McCutchen had a nice day Monday, going 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.Things have been slow for McCutchen this April, but the Pirates' centerfielder seems to be turning things around. McCutchen has hit two home runs in his last five games and has raised his average up to .273 after his slow start.
Apr 20 2014McCutchen's eight-game hitting streak ended Sunday with an 0-for-6 showing against the Brewers.With 15 walks, McCutchen has almost doubled his total from April of 2013, when he collected eight bases on balls. He's battled ankle and back injuries, which may have also contributed to a relatively uninspired start of one homer, three steals and a .527 OPS.
Apr 17 2014McCutchen hit his first homer of the season and drove in three runs during Thursday's win against Milwaukee.McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start, but it's only a matter of time before he goes on a hot streak.
Apr 15 2014McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a walk Tuesday against the Reds.He appeared to wrench his back during his first at-bat but then hit a double down the left-field line on the next pitch. McCutchen, who has yet to go deep, has already dealt with an ankle injury. The center fielder has never played in fewer than 154 games in four full seasons.
Apr 12 2014After leaving Friday's game with pain in his ankle, McCutchen returned Saturday with a 2-for-4 performance against the Brewers.McCutchen's pair of hits -- including a double -- off Yovani Gallardo were his first hits in 10 at-bats, so it's nice to see one of the league's best hitters get back on track after a mild slump and injury scare. He now owns a .225 average and has yet to homer in 11 games this season but should heat up soon enough.
Apr 12 2014McCutchen (ankle) is in the Pirates' lineup Saturday in Milwaukee, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Despite emerging from Friday's game with discomfort in his left ankle, McCutchen is business as usual, taking on center field and batting third in the order. He'll attempt to break out of an 0-for-10 blip on the radar, though he boasts a 3:4 BB:K and two stolen bases during that brief span.
Apr 11 2014McCutchen struck out three times Thursday, going hitless in three at-bats while walking twice against the Cubs.The center fielder, who has never walked more than 89 times in his career, leads the NL with 10 walks in nine games. He's still looking for his first homer after an impressive spring training. McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a dinger against Friday starter, Wily Peralta, in 2013.
Apr 11 2014Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said McCutchen left Friday's game after the center fielder told Hurdle he had discomfort in his left ankle, ROOT Sports in Pittsburgh reports."He came to me after the last at-bat and said 'I think I did something to my ankle,'" Hurdle said. The Pirates manager said he had no other information on the team's All-Star outfielder.
Apr 11 2014McCutchen left Friday's game after the eight innings with an undisclosed injury.With the score, 4-2, he lined sharply to third base to end the eighth and then did not take the field in the bottom of the inning. It's been speculated that he tweaked a knee, but we probably won't find out more until manager Clint Hurdle speaks after the game.
Apr 11 2014McCutchen left Friday's game with discomfort in his left ankle, according to ROOT Sports in Pittsburgh.He fouled a ball off his ankle Thursday afternoon in Wrigley Field. Manager Clint Hurdle will have more information after the game.
Apr 8 2014McCutchen reached base four times Tuesday, going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks against the Cubs.McCutchen has already walked eight times in the season's first seven games, though he's yet to homer or steal a base. He'll get another to improve upon his stats Wednesday at Wrigley, where the center fielder holds a .373/.488/.567 line with 10 stolen bases in 134 at-bats.
Apr 5 2014McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a two-run triple in Pittsburgh's 12-2 romp over St. Louis on Friday.The center fielder also lined out sharply to right field with a couple runners on base, narrowly missing an even bigger night. McCutchen figures to see more pitches to hit over the weekend, given the impressive track record of Pedro Alvarez against the Cards hitting behind him in the order.
Apr 4 2014The Cubs pitched around McCutchen in the opening series, with the NL MVP walking five times in three games.McCutchen isn't seeing the juicy grapefruits he saw in spring training. He went just 1-for-10 against Chicago as his first opponent chose to pitch around him. Cutch has seen little protection from Pedro Alvarez, who also finished with only one hit in the three-game series.
Mar 31 2014McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk in Monday's season opener against the Cubs.He had a quiet afternoon after his first-inning single. McCutchen and the Pirates are expected to face Edwin Jackson on Wednesday. The Pittsburgh center fielder went 5-for-9 with two doubles and three RBI against Jackson in 2013.
Mar 20 2014McCutchen is batting .560 (14-for-25) in Grapefruit League action.The key to McCutchen's season might lie with whom Pirates acquire at the trade deadline. His 2013 second-half batting average (.339) was much better than in his previous two campaigns (.216 and .289, respectively). Thus far, Pittsburgh has replaced Marlon Byrd and Justin Morneau with Travis Snider and Andrew Lambo. As a team with contending hopes, McCutchen deserves better protection in the batting order, but he might have to hold out until the deadline.
Mar 7 2014McCutchen is 8-for-11 this spring after missing the cycle by a triple Friday against the Twins.The team is treating him like the superstar he is, allowing him to stay back when the team travels across Florida for road games. Friday was McCutchen's first action since Monday and manager Clint Hurdle joked that he might continue giving him three days off between games so long as he performs the way he did Friday. McCutchen saw more demands for his time than ever this past winter and brought some attention to himself by proposing on the Ellen Show, but nothing seems to trouble the 27-year-old NL MVP.
Feb 27 2014McCutchen went 2-for-2 with a walk in his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday. "I'm going to focus even more on baserunning, because I know I can get better at it," McCutchen said. "I'll get on base, and everyone will know I'm going to second, but I've still got to do it."Fantasy owners would likely settle for a repeat of 2013, when McCutchen hit .317/.404/.508 with 21 homers and 27 stolen bases. While he improved his plate discipline (78 BB:101 K ratio), increased his line drive rate (24.5 percent), and finished with a .353 BABIP (career .322 BABIP), his numbers were down from 2012. Cutch has hit as many as 31 homers and stolen 33 bags.
Nov 15 2013McCutchen was named National League MVP on Thursday, MLB.com reports.McCutchen drew 28 of the 30 first-place votes; the St. Louis-based writers gave the two other first-place nods Yadier Molina, who finished third. Paul Goldschmidt finished second. McCutchen batted .317 with 21 home runs, 27 stolen bases, 84 RBI and scored 97 runs, leading the Pirates to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. His 84 RBI are the fewest for an NL MVP (in a full season) since Kirk Gibson - saluted as a similar driving force on the Dodgers - earned the 1988 award after a 76-RBI campaign. McCutchen is the seventh player in franchise history to earn an MVP Award, a list that began with Paul Waner in 1927. Subsequent winners have been Dick Groat (1960), Roberto Clemente (1966), Dave Parker (1978), Willie Stargell (1979, co-winner with Keith Hernandez) and Bonds (1990, '92).
Sep 30 2013McCutchen is okay after being hit in the face by a Jordy Mercer line drive during batting practice Monday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.It appears the Pirates dodged a major bullet with their best player. McCutchen is hitless in three at-bats with a walk and HBP in 2013 against Tuesday starter, Johnny Cueto. For his career, Cutch is batting .231 with three homers and five RBI in 39 at-bats versus the Cincinnati righty.
Sep 29 2013McCutchen is not in the lineup Sunday against the Reds, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports.Manager Clint Hurdle is resting many of his regulars Sunday, a day after locking up home-field advantage for Tuesday's wild card play-in game. McCutchen will now get two full days to rest up for the Pirates' first home playoff game since 1992.
Sep 28 2013McCutchen snapped an 0-for-18 slide (against the Reds) on Saturday, launching his 21st homer in an 8-3 victory.McCutchen's September average of .317 (27-for-85) mirrors his season mark of the same number. The center fielder has 27 steals but hasn't even attempted a stolen base since Aug. 28. Manager Clint Hurdle has stated he will rest some of his regulars Sunday, meaning McCutchen could find himself limited to pinch-hitting duties.
Sep 23 2013McCutchen went 0-for-4 Sunday and is hitless in his last 18 at-bats.He's struggling at the wrong time of the year for the playoff-hopeful Bucs. McCutchen is 8-for-22 with three doubles against the Cubs' Monday starter, Jeff Samardzija and is hitting .336 with a .984 career OPS against Chicago. The Pirates need a big series from their star heading into the final week of regular-season play.
Sep 18 2013McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer Wednesday against the Padres.The center fielder entered the game with only five RBI in September and four homers since July. He now has 20 home runs and needs three more stolen bases to reach 30 -- he was thrown out for the 10th time Wednesday.
Sep 11 2013McCutchen is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rangers, according to MLB.com's Tom Singer.McCutchen has been on fire in September, posting a 1.345 OPS over nine games, but with the Pirates playing a day game in the Texas heat Wednesday, manager Clint Hurdle felt it was time to give McCutchen his first day off since Aug. 8. Felix Pie will man center field for the Pirates on Wednesday.
Sep 10 2013McCutchen went 3-for-5 with three RBI Tuesday against the Rangers.He's hitting a league-best .349 (153-for-438) since April 30. McCutchen continues to make a strong case for NL MVP consideration.
Sep 9 2013McCutchen extended his batting streak to eight games Monday, going 2-for-4 with a triple in Texas.He's been the only Pirate producing offensively during the team's recent slide. McCutchen has five extra-base hits during his streak. His batting average is up to a season-best .324 and he is largely responsible for the team breaking a 20-year losing streak.
Sep 4 2013McCutchen went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and his 18th homer Tuesday night in Milwaukee.With 18 dingers and 27 stolen bases, McCutchen has a good chance to reach 20 homers and 30 steals for the first time. He hit 31 homers and stole 20 bases in 2012.
Sep 4 2013McCutchen hit his 19th homer -- and eighth in the last two seasons at Miller Park -- Wednesday against the Brewers.He created some controversy when he apparently lost track of the home run he hit in the lights. He looked for the ball instead of running hard right out of the box, apparently angering Brewers pitcher, Wily Peralta. His next dinger will give him consecutive 20/20 seasons with 23 games remaining.
Aug 28 2013McCutchen went 2-for-5 against Milwaukee on Tuesday, recording his 15th multi-hit game in 23 August starts.McCutchen is batting .422 (35-for-83) in August, though he's hit just two homers. The addition of Marlon Byrd might help McCutchen see better pitches, though he remains the one batter in Pittsburgh's lineup hurlers figure to pitch around.
Aug 23 2013Since the All-Star break, McCutchen is batting .374/.459/.626 with seven homers, 24 RBI and six steals in 123 at-bats.McCutchen, who's played nearly every game despite nagging knee and shoulder injuries, has overcome his typical late season swoon thus far. Friday presents an interesting matchup against Madison Bumgarner for the outfielder. McCutchen is hitless in six at-bats against the lefty but is batting .363 in 80 at-bats against southpaws in 2013.
Aug 20 2013McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a triple in Tuesday's win over the Padres.While McCutchen struck out twice, the triple scored two runs - his 70th and 71st RBI of the season. McCutchen has been on fire in August, batting .431 with a 1.145 OPS.
Aug 11 2013McCutchen went 2-for-4 with an RBI against Colorado on Sunday.He's hitting .518 in August and has hit safely in nine of his last 12 games. With McCutchen locked in and leading the way, the Pirates remain one of the best teams in baseball.
Aug 10 2013McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a walk Friday before getting time off in a 10-1 blowout loss to the Rockies.With the team down by nine runs in the third inning, Pittsburgh decided to rest its superstar. McCutchen is fine and will be in the lineup Saturday, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Aug 9 2013McCutchen (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Rockies, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.As expected, McCutchen is back in the lineup Friday, but the shoulder pain is likely something the 26-year-old will have to manage the rest of the season. He said he aggravates it every time he dives for a ball, but McCutchen said "it's nothing I can't play with."
Aug 8 2013McCutchen was scratched from Thursday's lineup with discomfort in his right shoulder.The shoulder discomfort will prevent McCutchen from going for a sixth straight multi-hit game Thursday, though the team lists him as just day-to-day with the ailment. Starling Marte is now set to man center while Neil Walker bats third.
Aug 7 2013With a fourth straight multihit performance Tuesday, McCutchen lifted his OPS to .884 -- the highest level he's reached since April 5.McCutchen is putting more balls in play. Both his strikeout (14.8 percent) and walk (9.6) percentages are lower than his career marks (16.8 and 1.11). He also has a shot at reaching 30 stolen bases for just the second time in his career. Currently, McCutchen holds a career-best 82.1 percent steal rate, swiping 23 of 28 bags.
Aug 3 2013McCutchen reached base three times Saturday, going 2-for-4 with a walk and two stolen bases.The star center fielder had swiped just three bags in his last 25 games. McCutchen barely missed his 16th dinger Saturday, lining a pitch off the Clemente Wall in right field for a double.
Jul 29 2013McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI Monday against the Cardinals.McCutchen continues to thrive in July as he now has nine multi-hit games in the month and has raised his batting average from .292 to .302. His numbers are down overall this season, but he could catch up in a hurry if he stays hot.
Jul 28 2013McCutchen popped out in a pinch-hitting role Sunday against the Marlins.He'll be back in the lineup Monday when the Bucs begin an 11-game homestand, including five games in four days against St. Louis. McCutchen did go in hard to break up a double play Saturday. With history of knee aches, the team likely made the right move by giving him Sunday off.
Jul 28 2013McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Marlins.McCutchen will be out of the lineup Sunday for just the fourth time this season, and the first time since June 3. The 26-year-old is sporting a 1.036 OPS for the month of July, and you'd think the Marlins would want him in the lineup against rookie Jose Fernandez, but it seems they want to make sure he's fresh for the stretch run.
Jul 26 2013McCutchen snapped a 1-for-15 slide with a ninth-inning single Friday in Miami.While his season's batting average sits at an even .300 mark, McCutchen continues to struggle with runners in scoring position. He entered Friday's contest with a .263 RISP batting average and a .235 mark in RISP situations with two outs.
Jul 22 2013McCutchen went 2-for-5 with two home runs, four RBI and two runs scored Monday against the Nationals.McCutchen has really turned on the power as he now has five home runs over his last six games. He got off to a very slow start with regards to home runs this season after hitting 31 last year, but he is now up to 14 for the season and looks to be catching up quickly.
Jul 21 2013Even after going hitless in four at-bats Sunday, McCutchen is batting .382 (21-for-55) for the month of July.It looks McCutchen might not be playing at 100 percent right now, though the team hasn't released any injury information. After making one catch on the warning track in left center, Cutch tossed the ball to left fielder Starling Marte to throw back to the infield. He also stepped out of the batters box during one plate appearance with some sort of issue, though he could have had something in his eyes. In any case, the Pirates and fantasy owners both need McCutchen's production going forward.
Jul 19 2013McCutchen was 1-for-3 with a walk, a home run and a stolen base in a losing effort against the Reds on Friday night.He's hitting .303, has 11 home runs, 50 RBI, and 21 steals on the season which, while owners hope to see the power numbers bump up over the coming weeks, underscores his fantasy value as a player that helps in virtually every scoring category.
Jul 13 2013McCutchen (hand) is in the starting lineup Saturday against the Mets.McCutchen was caught with a spike on his left hand while stealing second base in the 11th inning of Friday's win over the Mets, and he grimaced in pain afterward. He stayed in the game, however, and is in the lineup Saturday, so it doesn't seem the ailment will force McCutchen to miss any time.
Jul 13 2013McCutchen was spiked on his left hand stealing second base in the final inning of Friday's 11-inning win over the Mets.He winced in pain but stayed in the game and came around to score the winning run. McCutchen appeared to be alright, but keep an eye out for his name in the lineup prior to Saturday's contest -- just in case he's forced out for a game or two.
Jul 3 2013McCutchen reached the .300 batting average mark for the first time since April fifth Wednesday night.Fantasy owners have been awaiting a breakout by the Pittsburgh center fielder all season long and it appears the wait may be over. McCutchen's hitting .381 (16-for-42) over his last 11 games and appears primed for a big second half. He also stole his second base in four games after swiping just one bag in his previous 27.
Jul 3 2013McCutchen was perfect at the plate Wednesday night, going 3-for-3 with two walks, two runs scored, a triple, and his 17th steal of the season.McCutchen's power isn't quite what it was last season, but the Pirates aren't complaining given his .300 batting average and respectable stolen base production. The Pirate outfielder is hitting particularly well of late, collecting nine hits in his last five games.
Jun 29 2013McCutchen hit his second homer in five starts Friday after going 24 straight games without a dinger.McCutchen went 3-for-5 with his ninth home run and three RBI against the Brewers. He also made a sliding grab early in the contest, which helped quell a Milwaukee threat. His splits against righties and lefties (.288/.315) are decent, but he has a ways to go against southpaws in order to rival 2012's numbers (.309/.392). The Pirates are hoping to help Cutch from a second-half slide similar to 2012, but he's played in more games and has more plate appearances (76/327) than at this point last year (72/307).
Jun 24 2013McCutchen came off the bench Sunday to go 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.The outfielder kept alive a late rally which helped give Pittsburgh an unexpected, comeback victory. McCutchen, who had 13 home runs by June 23 last season, is batting .289/.358/.454 with eight homers and 15 steals but has yet to go on a patented hot streak.
Jun 15 2013McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a two-run double and a run scored in a 3-0 win Friday night.His opposite-field hit gave Pittsburgh an early lead and his tag up on a short pop-fly behind first base gave his team its third and final run. McCutchen's OPS has steadily increased in each of the season's three months (.731, .885, .926), respectively.
Jun 12 2013McCutchen went 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored Wednesday against San Francisco.McCutchen is suddenly 8-for-14 in his last four games, and has his average up to .297. The reliable center fielder should continue putting up big numbers as the we get closer to the All-Star break.
Jun 4 2013McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday, batting third against the Braves.McCutchen's slumped a bit lately, going 5-for-26 since May 27. He got the day off Monday, even though he's hit well against Kris Medlen. The center fielder missed a game a couple weeks ago with a sore right knee, and it wouldn't be surprising to find out he's still not 100 percent.
Jun 3 2013McCutchen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Braves.McCutchen has tallied a triple and a home run against Braves starter Kris Medlen in his career, but he will get a day off after playing in all but one game in May. Starling Marte will cover center field Monday in McCutchen's absence.
May 30 2013McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a caught stealing Wednesday against the Tigers.He hit the ball hard every time up, but with only one hit to show for his effort. McCutchen also made it through the contest without striking out, something he had done five times in the first two games of the Detroit series. It took McCutchen 16 games to strike out five times prior to those two games, making Wednesday a strong rebound effort. His strikeout percentage sits at 12.4 percent, better than a 19.6 mark in 2012.
May 27 2013McCutchen walked, drove in a run, and stole two bases in Monday's 6-5 loss to the Tigers.McCutchen was able to put together a nice fantasy day without getting a hit, further proving his value as a contributor in every major category. His 14 steals rank fourth in the majors and leave him on pace to finish with 44 stolen bases for the season. For a point of comparison, McCutchen averaged 24.5 steals in his first four seasons, topping out at 33 in 2010.
May 25 2013McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his seventh homer Saturday in Milwaukee, raising his batting average to .367 (29-for-79) over his last 20 games.McCutchen's first-inning dinger off Mike Fiers marked his third straight homer in as many at-bats off the right-handed pitcher. The center fielder was thrown out attempting to steal second base, but he's still 12-for-14 in stolen base attempts -- well ahead of his career 74 percent success rate.
May 23 2013McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two RBI, two steals and a run scored in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Cubs.McCutchen got the scoring started for Pittsburgh with an RBI single in the first inning, and he came right back in the second inning with another RBI single. He later flashed the leather with one of his trademark sliding grabs for the final out of the seventh inning. The 26-year-old brought his stolen base total up to 12 with two more Thursday, and he appears completely over the knee ailment that cost him a game late last week.
May 21 2013McCutchen returned to the lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-4, stranding six baserunners.For what it's worth, he hit one ball to the center field wall and a grounder to shortstop in which Starlin Castro made a fine play. McCutchen's BABIP is down from .375 in 2012 to .287 (prior to Tuesday). The center fielder holds a career .323 BABIP but is snakebitten right now.
May 21 2013McCutchen (knee) is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs.McCutchen will return after being a late scratch from Sunday's game due to a sore right knee. No structural damage was revealed in the knee, so it appeared to be nothing more than a minor injury and should be fine going forward.
May 19 2013McCutchen is a late scratch from Sunday's lineup with a sore right knee.McCutchen was in the Pirates' original lineup, but with him sitting now, Starling Marte has been re-inserted into the lineup and will start in center. He's sitting out with a sore right knee, but since he was in the original lineup, we're thinking the injury isn't likely too serious.
May 19 2013A doctor's exam revealed no structural damage to McCutchen's sore right knee and he expects to play Tuesday. "I just felt a little uncomfortable, and wanted to make sure everything was OK," McCutchen told the team's official website.McCutchen will get an off-day Monday to rest his knee. The center fielder believes he hurt his knee Thursday. "There was a small play where I slid home, and came up not feeling right," McCutchen said. "Something caused an uncomfortable feeling, so I wanted to check everything out. I didn't want to jeopardize the rest of the season. Better safe than sorry. I didn't want to sit out today, it's just something I had to do, but we were able to get a win, so it's OK. And I should be good to go Tuesday."
May 17 2013McCutchen was 3-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI, and a home run in the Pirates win over Houston on Friday night.While is .276 average with six home runs and 23 RBI isn't all that bad, it isn't what most expected from the young star. That said, he is likely to build on that start as the season progresses so his owners should be looking to the future with optimism.
May 10 2013McCutchen went hitless in five at-bats Friday against the Mets.He stranded a total of six baserunners and grounded into a double play with the bases loaded the last time he was up. McCutchen narrowly missed extra-base hits the first two times he batted Friday. He'll face lefty Jonathan Niese on Saturday. The center fielder has three hits (including two doubles) in six at-bats against Niese.
May 7 2013McCutchen went 4-for-4 Tuesday with a double, a run, a RBI and a steal against the Mariners.McCutchen is now 13 of his last 27 (.481) over his last seven games, and seems to have put to rest any anxiety his owners might have had after his slow start.
Apr 30 2013McCutchen, who has two hits in his last 29 at-bats, went 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI on Monday.Before singling to left in his final at-bat on a 97-mph fastball, McCutchen lined out to center. It looks like he's found his stroke, though he's just 4-for-16 with a dinger against Milwaukee's Tuesday starter, Marco Estrada.
Apr 28 2013McCutchen is not in the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals.Over his last eight games, McCutchen has batted a measly 2-for-26 at the plate, so it appears manager Clint Hurdle will give him a mental day off. Expect McCutchen to be available for pinch-hitting duty and make his return to the lineup Monday against the Brewers.
Apr 26 2013McCutchen went 0-for-3 in Friday's game before being lifted in the fifth inning as part of a double switch.McCutchen, who's not hurt, walked off the field from center field with a disgusted look on his face when he was taken out. The Pirates were already down, 5-0, at the time of his removal and he had stranded four baserunners. He has two hits in his last 25 at-bats.
Apr 24 2013McCutchen is hitless in his last 14 at-bats after going 0-for-3 Wednesday against the Phillies.He's struck out only three times during his mini-slump and figures to break out in the near future. Continue to roll the all-star center fielder.
Apr 12 2013McCutchen was 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Pittsburgh's 6-5 win over the Reds Friday night.The solo home run, his second of the season, was actually the big blow as he contributed what would be the winning run in the seventh inning after the Reds had tied the score in the top half of the frame. His combination of power and speed make him one of the brightest stars in the game, and certainly underscore his fantasy value.
Apr 7 2013McCutchen socked a two-run homer Sunday -- his first of the season, going 1-for-4 against the Dodgers.McCutchen had a decent week 1, with four stolen bases and the dinger. He didn't hit his first homer until May 8 in 2012, yet still finished with 31 home runs.
Apr 5 2013With two steals Thursday, McCutchen became the 29th player to steal 100 bases as a Pirate, notes the Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette.McCutchen has four steals in three games, and manager Clint Hurdle likes what he sees. "It's been very encouraging, just watching him look for leads and look for pitches. I'm very encouraged by what I'm seeing," offered Hurdle. McCutchen's career-high in steals is 33, which came in 2012. If he keeps up this pace, he'll further establish himself amongst elite fantasy options.
Apr 3 2013McCutchen went 1-for-3 with an RBI double and his second stolen base in as many games Wednesday against the Cubs.It's good to see Cutch staying true to his spring statement that he would attempt more steals in 2013. Of course, he swiped two bags in the first three games of 2012 and finished with just 20 steals.
Apr 1 2013McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a double and a stolen base against the Cubs on Monday.His stolen base came in a low leverage spot with Pittsburgh down by three in the ninth inning, but it was good to see the outfielder find success after going 1-for-2 in the spring. McCutchen has three hits in 11 career at-bats against Wednesday starter, Edwin Jackson, including two home runs.
Mar 24 2013McCutchen doubled and homered in three at-bats Sunday after sitting out Saturday with a stomach bug.McCutchen, who has three homers and 10 RBI in Grapefruit League action, is set to hit third for the Pirates and primed for another big year. The center fielder has stated a goal of stealing more than the 20 bases he bagged in 2012, but is just 1-for-2 in spring training.
Mar 23 2013McCutchen was held out of Saturday's spring game due to an illness, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.Since the issue is not considered a long-term one, McCutchen should be back in the lineup before long. His availability for Opening Day is not in question. In his stead, Starling Marte will man center field.
Mar 10 2013The Pirates are taking it easy in spring training with McCutchen, whose 16 at-bats are good for 12th on the team.There's no injury with the center fielder, but the Bucs need to keep him from wearing down in the second half -- as he has the past two seasons. He's swiped one of two bases, something McCutchen says he wants to improve upon, but fantasy owners would likely be happy with some sort of repeat of last year (including 20 stolen bases). Cutch finished third in the NL MVP voting in 2012.
Mar 3 2013McCutchen walked in all three of his plate appearances Sunday and was thrown out attempting to steal second base.The 2013 season will likely test McCutchen's patience as teams pitch around him more frequently. Give the center fielder credit for continuing to work on the base-stealing area of his game, even if he has been mostly unsuccessful.
Feb 23 2013McCutchen, who went 55 games without a stolen base at one point in 2012, is looking toward runners with less speed and better mechanics to improve his own stealing capabilities. "Just being able to have confidence that I'll be able to get to the next bag with no problem," McCutchen said. "That's the biggest thing for myself, is not worrying about it. Just knowing that if I want to go, I can go," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Despite having some of the best speed on the team, McCutchen's stolen base totals have dropped from 33, 23 to 20 bags, respectively, in the last three years. Fantasy owners might be more concerned with the center fielder's BAbip. McCutchen finished 2012 with a .375 BAbip as compared to his four-season major-league average of .326.
Sep 29 2012McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in the Pirates' win over the Reds on Saturday.The home run helped lift the Pirates over the Reds in this one. The home run was also his first hit in seven at-bats since recovering from a knee injury Friday.
Sep 28 2012McCutchen (knee) is listed in Friday's starting lineup against the Reds, Tom Singer of the Pirates' Web site reports.Good news for McCutchen fantasy owners. The Pirates center fielder is battling the Giants Buster Posey for the NL batting title, giving him added incentive to finish strongly.
Sep 27 2012McCutchen left Thursday's game with an apparent left knee injury.The center fielder came racing in on a short pop fly and twisted his left knee awkwardly. He was able to walk off the field without a limp and without assistance. McCutchen went 0-for-4 before leaving the contest. It looks like he could miss a day or two at the most.
Sep 27 2012McCutchen (knee) hopes to be ready to play Friday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen has dealt with minor knee issues throughout 2012. Fortunately, it appears he appears to have only tweaked something. There's still a chance he could miss Friday, depending on how much his knee swells overnight, but it looks the Pirates and Cutch have dodged a bullet.
Sep 27 2012McCutchen left Thursday's game after sustaining an apparent knee injury on an attempted diving catch.The center fielder came racing in on a short pop fly and twisted his left knee awkwardly. He'd gone 0-for-4 before leaving, leaving him at .332, one point ahead of Buster Posey for the non-steroid-aided batting title. Keep an eye out for an update on his status.
Sep 27 2012McCutchen left Thursday's game after sustaining an injury on an attempted diving catch.It's unclear what the injury was, but it could have been McCutchen's knee, which could -- depending on the severity -- cause the Pirates to shut him down for the duration of the year. He'd gone 0-for-4 before leaving, leaving him at .332, one point ahead of Buster Posey for the non-steroid-aided batting title. Keep an eye out for an update on his status.
Sep 23 2012McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI double Sunday against Houston.He holds a four-point lead in the NL batting race (.336 to .332, respectively) over Buster Posey. McCutchen went deep for his 30rd dinger Thursday and has 19 stolen bases (with 11 caught stealings) to his credit.
Sep 20 2012McCutchen launched a three-run homer in Thursday's loss to Milwaukee.McCutchen, who reached the 30-homer mark for the first time in his career, has gone deep in six of his last 11 games.
Sep 19 2012McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base as the Pirates lost 3-1 to the Brewers Wednesday.McCutchen hit home run number 29 and stole base number 19 on the season Wednesday. The home run was also the fifth of the month. After a brief power outage, McCutchen is back to his high powered ways to end the year.
Sep 15 2012McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a solo homer in Saturday's win over the Cubs.McCutchen reached base four times on the day, walking twice in addition to his two hits. McCutchen appears to have busted out of a slump of late, as he now has four homers over his last six games.
Sep 14 2012McCutchen hit his 27th home run, and third in five games, in a 7-4 loss to the Cubs on Friday.The three dingers equals the number McCutchen had hit in his previous 48 games. His Superman cape has come off, but fantasy owners have to hope his recent binge continues over the final three weeks of the season.
Sep 10 2012McCutchen hit his first homer since Aug. 15 Sunday against the Cubs.Since July 18, McCutchen has three homers and two steals in 179 at-bats to go along with a .279 batting average and .752 OPS. For the season, Cutch has 25 homers, 16 stolen bases, .341 batting average and .966 OPS. A combination of injuries and poor pitch selection has hurt the outfielder in recent months.
Sep 10 2012McCutchen went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two walks Monday against the Reds.McCutchen now has home runs in back-to-back games after going a lengthy stretch without one and could be starting another hot streak.
Sep 8 2012McCutchen went 0-for-3 Friday before being removed early in a 12-2 blowout loss.McCutchen got a couple innings off with Pittsburgh trailing by a large number of runs. He narrowly missed two extra-base hits, with Alfonso Soriano robbing him in left and Brett Jackson running into the center field fence on a nice play.
Sep 5 2012McCutchen went 4-for-4 with a double and three RBI against Houston on Tuesday.The four-hit game was McCutchen's sixth of the year and first since July 2. He'll get another game against the Astros on Wednesday before a weekend home series versus the Cubs. The outfielder, who's hit just two of his 24 homers since July 17, leads the majors with a .347 batting average.
Sep 3 2012McCutchen struggled at the plate Sunday, going 1-for-5 against the Brewers.In a game that featured eight Pirates runs and 13 hits, McCutchen failed to do much of anything at the plate. On the plus side, he looked healthy running out the double play he hit into. His home OPS is 43 points (.994 to 951) better than it is on the road. Pittsburgh plays six games at PNC Park in Week 23.
Sep 1 2012McCutchen is back hitting third Saturday against Milwaukee, the Pirates' Twitter Feed reports.In six games at Miller Park, Cutch is batting .500 (12-for-24) with six extra-base hits (including four homers) and five RBI. He should be well rested after getting the last two days off.
Aug 31 2012McCutchen is not listed in Friday's lineup against the Brewers, Tom Singer of the Pirates' Web site reports.McCutchen has taken a beating in recent days, injuring his left knee and rolling an ankle. The Bucs have taken advantage of off days to give players multiple days of rest and it appears that's exactly what they're doing with Cutch on Friday. He should be fine Saturday and could pinch-hit Friday.
Aug 28 2012McCutchen rolled an ankle Monday but stayed in the game against the Cardinals.McCutchen is playing at less than 100 percent. He bruised his knee sliding into the center field fence Friday and has been seen grimacing during swings at the plate. He did go 2-for-4 with an RBI on Monday, collecting just his third two-hit game in the last 19 contests.
Aug 27 2012McCutchen, who went hitless in four at-bats Sunday, is hitting .185 (12-for-65) in his last 16 games.McCutchen looked lost at the plate, especially on a ninth-inning strikeout appearance against Kameron Loe. The center fielder faded terribly down the stretch in 2011 and is in jeopardy of having history repeat itself. He's 2-for-8 with a homer and four RBI against Monday starter, Kyle Lohse.
Aug 25 2012McCutchen (knee) is listed in Saturday's lineup against Milwaukee, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.McCutchen will bat third and start in center field. He bruised his knee Friday but appears set to go against the Brewers.
Aug 25 2012McCutchen banged his knee into the center field wall Friday but remained in the game.There's a chance he could miss a game or two, depending on the day-after swelling to his knee. So far there's been no word to that effect, but it's something to keep an eye on.
Aug 24 2012McCutchen is batting .253 with two homers and one stolen base in the month of August.Last season McCutchen slumped from .291 before the All-Star break to .216 after the midseason classic. He has hit well against weekend opponent Milwaukee in 2012. Cutch is batting .500 (12-for-24) with four homers and nine RBI against the Brewers, including 2-for-3 with a dinger against Friday starter, Mike Fiers.
Aug 20 2012McCutchen collected his first three-RBI game since the All-Star break Sunday in St. Louis.Of course, Sunday's 19-inning affair was more like two tilts in one, but McCutchen will take what he can get as he battles through a frustrating stretch. Since July 18, Cutch is hitting .295 with two homers, 11 RBI and no stolen bases in 112 at-bats.
Aug 17 2012McCutchen went 1-for-2 with three walks Thursday against Los Angeles.The Dodgers weren't going to let the Bucs' best hitter beat them. McCutchen is still having trouble running the bases -- he got picked off first base. The center fielder is batting .375 (6-for-16) against Friday starter, Jake Westbrook.
Aug 16 2012McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk and his career-high 24th dinger against the Dodgers on Wednesday.The homer was just the second in August for Cutch. He's only attempted one stolen base since July and hasn't successfully swiped a base in nearly two months (June 19). McCutchen continues to sit on 14 stolen bases and a 30/30 season seems out of reach, though fantasy owners aren't likely complaining about his MVP-type campaign.
Aug 13 2012McCutchen went 2-for-6 with a two-run double Sunday against San Diego.Prior to Sunday's game, Pirates GM Neal Huntington said he's seeing "swings with frustration coming out." He added that McCutchen is being pitched more carefully and is expanding the zone. Huntington went on to add that Cutch has to "trust the players behind him" to do their jobs. McCutchen, who is hitting .286 (12-for-42) in 11 August games, was seen flexing his lower right leg/ankle area in the outfield Sunday but didn't miss any playing time.
Aug 5 2012McCutchen homered in the ninth inning of Sunday's win over the Reds, snapping a 16-game homer drought.McCutchen had a pretty tough series this weekend prior to the homer, going 1-for-10 with a painful HBP against Aroldis Chapman. His recent power and speed slump at least was accompanied by a good surge in batting average, unlike last year's second half.
Aug 5 2012McCutchen's power outage has reached 16 games, as the center fielder has zero home runs and one RBI since July 17.He's maintained his MLB-leading batting average of .369 but hasn't homered since shortly after the All-Star homer derby. McCutchen has also shortcircuited on the basepaths. He hasn't stolen a base since June 19, getting thrown out on his last four attempts.
Jul 31 2012McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double Tuesday against the Cubs, raising his MLB-best batting average to .371.He's sitting on one RBI in his last 13 games and one dinger in his last 15. It doesn't appear as if he's hurt, though the center fielder did sit out a game in late June after injuring his wrist while making a play. Considering that he took part in the All-Star homer derby (and has hit seven dingers since then), we'll chalk up the power outage to a bit of regression.
Jul 29 2012McCutchen, who will sit Sunday, has 11 hits in his last 34 at-bats over 10 games with two doubles and one RBI.He's had more swing-and-misses in recent games and has been pitched to more conservatively. The day off Sunday will give him a chance to rest his batteries and possibly rediscover his extra-base power. Only Neil Walker (98) has appeared in more games than has McCutchen (96).
Jul 29 2012McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, the Pirates' official Twitter page reports.McCutchen will get a day off while Starling Marte starts in center field, Alex Presley takes left, and Garrett Jones mans right. Expect McCutchen, who is hitting .446 in July with seven homers and 15 RBI, back in the lineup for Monday's opener against the Cubs.
Jul 25 2012McCutchen, who went 1-for-3 Wednesday, struck out nine times during the Pirates' six-game homestand.He hasn't had an extra-base hit in his last seven games, collecting just one RBI. McCutchen's looked frustrated at the plate but will get a four-game series in Houston starting Thursday to turn his frown into a smile.
Jul 22 2012McCutchen went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Sunday's win over the Marlins.He has struck out six times in the last three games, one strikeout more than he totaled in 14 previous contests. McCutchen was called out caught stealing on a very close play. He suffered a knee abrasion but remained in the game.
Jul 21 2012Despite hitting .448/.495/.828 in his last 21 games, McCutchen received just his second intentional walk over that span Friday.Interestingly, the center fielder has been issued only eight intentional walks on the season -- all at PNC Park. At some point, opponents figure to walk McCutchen on a more frequent basis with only Garrett Jones and Casey McGehee providing protection for Cutch.
Jul 18 2012McCutchen went 2-for-4 with his 22nd dinger Tuesday night in Colorado.He nearly picked up his 15th stolen base, too, but Casey McGehee struck out at he plate as the ump was calling McCutchen safe at second. After an April in which McCutchen hit .302 with zero home runs, the right fielder has fashioned a slash line of .399/.452/.757 with 22 homers in 243 at-bats. He'll face Jeremy Guthrie on Wednesday. Cutch is batting .470/.505/.819 for the season against southpaws.
Jul 15 2012McCutchen hit his 21st homer and fifth in the last four games Sunday against the Brewers.His 3-for-4 showing raised his major league-leading batting average to .371. McCutchen is hitting .462 (36-for-78) with a 1.295 OPS against lefties, making Monday's matchup against Colorado southpaw, Jeff Francis, a pretty good draw.
Jul 14 2012McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a home run in Saturday's win over the Brewers.He also drew a walk and struck out twice. McCutchen has been incredible all season, and over his last five games he has gone 11-for-22 with four home runs and nine RBI. He's easily one of the top candidates for MVP in the NL and is a huge reason why the Pirates remain in first place in the NL-Central division.
Jul 14 2012McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run against the Brewers on Friday.It doesn't appear as if the All Star break killed any momentum as McCutchen has now hit safely in his last four contests with three multi-hit games in that span. He is now 14-for-28 (.500) with four home runs and nine RBI over his last seven games.
Jul 8 2012McCutchen belted two two-run homers Sunday, going 3-for-5 against the Giants.He's got a .362 batting average, 18 dingers and 60 RBI heading into the All-Star Game. About the only thing that might slow him down is his participation in the home run derby. Cutch hasn't attempted stealing a base in 18 games, but manager Clint Hurdle said the team has faced pitchers with quick delivery times recently. "when opportunities are there, he will run," Hurdle said on his radio show. The center fielder has successfully swiped 14 of 18 bases.
Jul 6 2012McCutchen was 3-for-5 with a triple, one run scored, and two driven in against San Francisco on Friday night.Just another night for the Pirates' young slugger who is now hitting .360 with 56 RBI on the year. The scary part - he's really this good. Expect a big second half from one of the most exciting young stars in the game.
Jul 2 2012McCutchen (wrist) is listed in the Pirates' starting lineup Monday, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen took batting practice and pronounced himself ready to go against the Astros on Monday night.
Jul 1 2012McCutchen (wrist) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Cardinals, the Pirates' official Twitter page reports.McCutchen was clear Saturday that he wanted to be in Sunday's lineup, but Alex Presley will get the start in center field while McCutchen sits for the first time since May 6. The 25-year-old finished the month of June with four multi-hit games in his last five, and will likely return to the lineup for Monday's opener against the Astros.
Jun 30 2012The Pirates removed McCutchen in the seventh inning of Saturday's game after the center fielder appeared to injure his wrist while making a catch earlier in the game.The move was said to be precautionary, as he was able to play for a couple innings after falling on his wrist making a diving catch.
Jun 30 2012X-rays were negative on McCutchen's left wrist, which he injured in Saturday's game, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.McCutchen likely won't play Sunday. "Everything's fine, so we'll see how I feel [Sunday]," McCutchen said. Manager Clint Hurdle did not indicate if roster move is being considered.
Jun 30 2012McCutchen went 4-for-5 with four runs scored, a double, a home run and three RBI against the Cardinals on Friday.Just a triple short of the cycle for the Pirates center fielder who has been on fire here in the month of June. This was his 11th multi-hit game of the month and he is now batting .362 with seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 24 RBI in June. It's hard to imagine him keeping this pace up the rest of the way, but even if he comes close, he'll easily surpass any previous career-highs in offensive production.
Jun 27 2012McCutchen went 2-for-5 with his 14th homer, a two-run shot, Wednesday against Philadelphia.He entered the game with a .360 batting average for June after hitting .360 for May. It's incredible that pitchers continue to pitch to him, given the paucity of productive Pirates hitters anywhere else in the lineup. Manager Clint Hurdle recently rested everyday starter, Neil Walker, and Cutch could get a day off himself -- perhaps as soon as Thursday.
Jun 17 2012McCutchen closed out a quiet Week 11 with a 2-for-5 showing Sunday afternoon in Cleveland.McCutchen's double against the Indians in a 9-5 win was his first extra-base hit during a six-game road trip. He hit .320 (8-for-25) for the week with one RBI and a pair of stolen bases.
Jun 11 2012McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run homer Sunday against Kansas City.McCutchen is now a member of the 11/11 Club, as he stole his 11th base while hitting his 11th homer. He entered Sunday 0-for-17 lifetime against the Royals and hitless in his prior nine at-bats. Cutch also raised his NL-leading batting average against left-handed pitchers to .463 (25-for-54) with an OPS of 1.306.
Jun 7 2012McCutchen mashed a three-run home run, his 10th of the season, as Pittsburgh lost to Cincinnati on Wednesday.McCutchen has hit safely in his past five games, racking up three runs scored, two homers, and eight RBI to raise his season splits slightly to .333/.394/.568. The five-tool threat hasn't produced a steal in his last nine contests, his second longest stretch of the season after a 10-game void, so expect McCutchen to pick up a stolen base in the near future.
Jun 3 2012McCutchen hit his ninth homer Sunday, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.He was caught stealing for the fourth time in 14 tries, right around the pace he showed in 2011 when he was successful on 23 of 33 attempts. McCutchen is clicking on all cylinders, as his .949 OPS (prior to Sunday) indicates.
Jun 2 2012McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, a walk, a run scored and three RBI against the Brewers on Friday.After a weak April, McCutchen hit .360 for the month of May with eight home runs, 18 RBI and five stolen bases. It looks like he's put the slow start behind him and has carried the momentum into the start of June.
May 31 2012McCutchen hit .360 with eight homers, 18 RBI, 16 runs, and five stolen bases in May.There was a bit of concern when McCutchen didn't homer in April, but nobody is worried about him anymore. About the only complaint here is that his RBI and run totals would be higher if the Pirates had a decent lineup around him. He has cooled off a bit in his last 10 games, going 10-for-36 with a 3:11 K:BB ratio. He's a lifetime .174 hitter against Friday starter, Randy Wolf.
May 19 2012McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI in the Pirates' win over the Tigers on Saturday.This was his second multi-homer game in three days, with Justin Verlander's near-no-no Friday interrupting the performances. McCutchen might see fewer balls to hit moving forward considering the meekness of the rest of the Pirates' lineup, but his speed makes him a dangerous man to put on base without a fight.
May 17 2012McCutchen smacked a pair of solo home runs in Thursday's win at Washington.McCutchen, who went homerless in April, has already gone deep five times this month. The center fielder narrowly missed a third homer Thursday, pulling a ball foul down the left-field line.
May 12 2012McCutchen went 4-for-4 with a solo home run and a steal in the Pirates' win over the Astros on Saturday.This was McCutchen's second four-hit game of the week, which has helped boost his average from .302 on May 8 to .342 after Saturday's performance. It has taken a little while for McCutchen's power to come around this season, but his potential to exceed his 23-home-run, 23-steal season from last year should have him among the NL's elite outfielders.
May 9 2012McCutchen hit his first homer Tuesday, a no-doubter off the center field backdrop against the Nats' Edwin Jackson.McCutchen, who just missed a second home run, reached base three times (with two walks). Fantasy owners are waiting for a nice run by Cutch, who has just eight RBI in 96 at-bats.
May 9 2012McCutchen went 4-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Nationals. McCutchen has now homered in back-to-back games.McCutchen has started to turn it on lately finding his home run stroke and hitting safely in 10 of his last 12 games. He also showed he's back healthy, scoring from second base on a ground ball hit to shortstop Ian Desmond.
May 8 2012McCutchen (flu) will bat third and play center field Tuesday.Pittsburgh sat its star Sunday. Combined with the team's off-day Monday, McCutchen should be ready for Tuesday's game against the Nats. In nine career at-bats against Edwin Jackson, McCutchen has two hits, including a home run.
May 6 2012McCutchen is not in Sunday's lineup against the Reds, the Pirates' official Twitter feed reports.McCutchen returned to action Saturday after a bout with the flu, but he'll get some more time to recuperate here, with the Bucs off on Monday. As a result, Nate McLouth gets the start in center field Sunday.
May 6 2012McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk Saturday against the Reds.He's struggled with a flu the last few days. McCutchen got picked off first base and misplayed a line drive into a triple Saturday night, but appears safe to keep active in fantasy lineups.
May 5 2012McCutchen (flu) is back in the starting lineup Saturday, the Pirates' official Twitter feed reports.He's back in center field and batting third for the Pirates after being limited to two at-bats over the Bucs' last three games.
May 5 2012McCutchen (flu) did not play Friday but was available to pinch-hit.The Pirates need to get him started. McCutchen has yet to homer and is batting .184 (7-for-38) in his last 10 games. The team is hopeful he'll be back in Saturday's lineup.
May 4 2012McCutchen (illness) was not in Friday's starting lineup, the Pirates' official site reports.McCutchen left Thursday's game with a stomach bug, and he wasn't well enough Friday to start the game. He should be considered day-to-day for the weekend.
May 3 2012McCutchen was removed from Thursday's game with a "queasy stomach," Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.The cause of the illness is currently unknown, but this doesn't sound like a major issue. Consider him day-to-day at worst; he should be good to go for the Pirates' next game.
May 3 2012McCutchen left Thursday's game after three innings.We're awaiting word why Nate McLouth replaced him. McCutchen got the day off Wednesday, but it's apparent that there's more to his situation than just rest.
May 3 2012McCutchen is back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Cardinals, according to the Pirates' official Twitter page.McCutchen will return to action after getting the day off Wednesday. He owns a quality .303 batting average after 23 games, but is still looking for his first home run of the season.
May 2 2012McCutchen is not in the lineup Wednesday, the Pirates' official Twitter feed reports.He'll get a day to rest. Manager Clint Hurdle said Cutch is on pace for 155 games and simply wants to give him a night off. Nate McLouth is starting in center field and batting second for the Bucs on Wednesday. The day off would be McCutchen's first of the season after 23 consecutive starts in center field and in the No. 3 spot in the batting order.
Apr 29 2012McCutchen went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts Sunday.Sometimes it's easy to forget he's only in his third full season until he drops a routine fly ball to center field. McCutchen, who also threw to the wrong base on another play, has yet to get a day off. With a seven-game schedule on tap for Week 6, look for the Bucs to sit Cutch for a game. Even so, he's got five stolen bases and a .305 batting average. Fantasy owners will likely want to keep him active.
Apr 25 2012McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a double and three RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 win.His shot off the top of the center field fence was the closest he's come to going deep in 2012. McCutchen settled for a double. Last April he hit five home runs, so he's putting himself a little bit behind the eight ball with his slow power start.
Apr 19 2012McCutchen is batting .400 in 45 at-bats, but has just two RBI.The hitters in front of him, namely Jose Tabata, have gotten off to slow starts. In fact, McCutchen has come to the plate just 10 times with runners in scoring position, going 2-for-8 with two walks. He has attempted five stolen bases, swiping three successfully, even though his base-stealing instincts are no better than average.
Apr 8 2012McCutchen reached base four times Sunday, banging out three hits (including a double) and a walk. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen also looked aggressive on the basepaths, something that could pay off nicely for his fantasy owners. It's early, but the center fielder has already swiped two bases in as many attempts. In 2011, McCutchen stole only three bases in all of April en route to a 23 stolen-base campaign.
Mar 27 2012McCutchen swiped his third base in as many spring attempts Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All systems are go for Cutch, who hasn't shown any hesitant signs after inking a $51 million deal. After slumping to 23 steals in 2011, the outfielder looks to hit the 30-steal plateau like he did in 2010 -- when he swiped 33. With a spring average of .363 in 36 at-bats, McCutchen is primed for a big year in his third full season with Pittsburgh.
Mar 8 2012McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI against the Yankees on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's doubtful McCutchen's big contract signing affects his play, but it's something to keep an eye on. More importantly, Cutch is still just 25 and has room to build upon his game. He didn't get a chance to steal any bases Tuesday, but that's something we're watching this spring. He has the potential for a 30/30 campaign in 2012.
Mar 4 2012McCutchen has agreed to a six-year, $51.5 million contract extension that includes a $14.75 million club option, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The contract isn't official as the Post-Gazette cites an unnamed source. The deal would buy out McCutchen's remaining arbitration year and first two years of free agency.
Mar 3 2012McCutchen continues to negotiate with the Pirates, despite having his contract renewed Saturday, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates and McCutchen are about $10 million apart on making a long-term deal. McCutchen wants $50 million for six years, while the Pirates remain in the $40 million range. The Pirates hold McCutchen92s rights for four more years, but as the team92s top hitter, they want to reward him while also buying out a year or two of free agency. Pittsburgh has until March 11th to situate his salary for the upcoming season.
Feb 29 2012McCutchen, whose stolen bases total dropped from 33 in 2010 to 23 last year, worked with a speed coach to help improve upon his base-stealing skills, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen believes confidence plays a big role in stealing bags. "I said that last year; I gotta go, I gotta go," McCutchen said. "I never really went. Twenty-three stolen bases, I know I can have more than that." In the last couple days we've learned that Cutch has adopted a new batting stance and a new approach to base stealing. One of these years the Pirates centerfielder is going to hit the 30/30 mark and that year could be in 2012 as he works toward a big contract.
Feb 28 2012McCutchen is hoping a wider stance at the plate will help improve his plate coverage and ability to hit to the opposite field, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just 17 of McCutchen's 148 hits were to right field last season. "This is something I92m going to do, I92m way more comfortable doing it, and I just got to go out there and get it done," he said of moving his front foot farther from the plate. Manager Clint Hurdle seconded McCutchen's change. "He evaluated very honestly, he92s got great awareness," Hurdle said. "He92s one young player that I92ve seen, when he puts his mind to something he92s able to put it down and getting done."
Feb 22 2012McCutchen is looking to avoid swoons like he had in the second half of 2011, when he batted .220 after July 25 and .176 (16-for-2) in the final 29 games, the Pirates' Web site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has the tools to go 30/30 in 2012. He's even put NL MVP Matt Kemp on alert. "I texted him my congratulations," McCutchen recalled the exchange early in the offseason, "and told him it was well deserved, but I wasn't going to let him have it this year. I know him well enough that I could say that to him." It might seem that McCutchen has been around for a fairly long time, but it's important to note that he's stil just 25 years of age. Improvement from his 2011 numbers -- .259/.364/.456 with 23 homers and 23 stolen bases -- is very possible.
Sep 27 2011McCutchen (adbomen) is in the Pirates' starting lineup for Tuesday's penultimate regular season game. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's injury was minor, and even with nothing at stake for Pittsburgh, Clint Hurdle will let his star play.
Sep 26 2011McCutchen (lower abdomen) expects to be able to return to the lineup Tuesday, the Pirates' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Of course, there's very little at stake for McCutchen and the Pirates, so be on the lookout for any changes in plans before the start of the game.
Sep 19 2011McCutchen saw his September batting average fall to .182 (10-for-55) on Monday. He went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a walk against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had a chance to tie the game with two outs in the ninth and a runner on third but struck out. McCutchen has 22 homers and 22 stolen bases, but he's worn down over the last month or so. His .263 batting mark is his lowest since June 3.
Sep 17 2011McCutchen is back in the starting lineup Saturday, the Pirates' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was given the day off Friday. He'll bat third and play center against starter Ted Lilly.
Sep 16 2011McCutchen is out of Pittsburgh's lineup Friday, the club's official Twitter reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had played in 26 of the past 27 games, so it's no surprised the Pirates are giving him a day off late in the season.
Sep 13 2011McCutchen is batting .223/.329/.410 in 202 at-bats since the All-Star break. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His .832 OPS for the season is just above his career average (.826) but there's plenty of room for improvement from the 24 year-old going forward.
Sep 7 2011McCutchen went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Wednesday92s win over the Astros. McCutchen92s 22 home runs on the season represent a career high. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The home runs on Wedneday snapped a seven game homerless streak. McCutchen has struggled lately and hopefully things are about to turn around in the weeks to come. On the season, McCutchen is batting .269 with 22 home runs, 85 RBI, 81 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
Sep 3 2011McCutchen (hand) is expected to play Saturday afternoon in Chicago, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Barring a setback during batting practice, McCutchen is anticipating a return one day after taking a pitch off his left hand.
Sep 2 2011X-rays on McCutchen's left hand did not reveal a fracture, the Pirates' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The report notes that McCutchen has been diagnosed with a bone contusion and is listed as day-to-day.
Sep 1 2011McCutchen went 0-for-3 on Wednesday and was hit by a pitch on his right elbow the last time he batted. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He stayed in the game for the final batter and appeared to be alright. McCutchen became the eighth Pirates player to reach the 20/20 mark Tuesday and looks to add on to those totals in September.
Aug 30 2011McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Pirates' loss to the Astros on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's 20-20 potential is no more -- he has now made good on that promise for the first time in his career. He hit cleanup in the loss for the first time since July 27, swapping places with Neil Walker. He hit .206/.333/.368 in a 19-game trial at cleanup earlier in the year.
Aug 29 2011McCutchen hit his 19th homer of the season Monday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a short slump, he extended both his batting streak and RBI streak to four games. McCutchen continues to adjust to opposing teams pitching him high and tight -- the center fielder has already been hit a career-high eight times.
Aug 27 2011McCutchen snapped out of a 1-for-16 slump with three hits Friday night in St. Louis. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is headed for his first 20/20 campaign with 18 homers and 20 steals, but his strikeout rate is alarming. The Pirates center fielder has already struck out 97 times in 477 at-bats after whiffing 89 times in 570 at-bats a year ago.
Aug 22 2011McCutchen went 0-for-5 with a strikeout, walk and run scored in Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's batting average fell to .271, but he was hitting .333 with two home runs over the previous seven days. Despite the lowest batting average of his career, his 19.8 percent line drive rate is the highest of his career. Furthermore, his walk rate (12.8 percent) and ISO (.198) are both career highs.
Aug 18 2011McCutchen's 2-for-3 night Tuesday raised his post All-Star break batting average to .216. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His homers (17) and steals (20) totals are impressive, but the 24 year-old still needs work on his consistency -- he's hit better than .300 in one of four months thus far. He also made a fantastic running grab in extra innings but turned a catchable ball into a double earlier in the game.
Aug 17 2011McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a steal in the Pirates' win over the Cardinals on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His 17th homer marked the only runs the Pirates notched off opposing starter Chris Carpenter, who had only allowed 11 shots entering Tuesday's game. Jose Tabata's return from the DL means McCutchen should return to the third spot of the lineup for the forseeable future.
Aug 11 2011McCutchen had a productive game Wednesday, as he went 1-for-1 with his 16th homer, three walks and two steals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is walking at a career-high rate this year, a very promising sign for one of the game's rising stars. He hasn't had the most impressive year otherwise -- he'll easily go 20-20, but somehow it's an underwhelming 20-20 -- though you have to think the best is yet to come.
Aug 8 2011McCutchen will hit leadoff and play his customary center field Monday in San Francisco. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen got Sunday off, except for a pinch-hitting role in which he grounded into a fielder's choice.
Aug 7 2011McCutchen is not in Sunday's starting lineup against Mat Latos and the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Xavier Paul will take his place in center field for a day. McCutchen has looked a step slow the last several games, got picked off first base Saturday and his smallish frame can surely use the day off during Pittsburgh's nine-game losing streak.
Aug 5 2011McCutchen is hitting .250 (4-for-16) since being moved into the leadoff spot four games ago. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Clint Hurdle has said that McCutchen will likely move back to the three spot once Alex Presley or Jose Tabata returns in a couple weeks. The center fielder has but one run scored and one RBI atop the order, but has stolen a base. His steals are down from 33 in 2010 to 17 this year, but he needs just one homer to match his career-high of 16, set a season ago.
Aug 2 2011The Pirates moved McCutchen into the leadoff spot Monday following the acquisitions of Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is hitting .252 atop the lineup and .313 while batting third. The team will look to the center fielder for a spark on the basepaths. Despite his 16 steals, he's attempted to steal only two times since June 25. Look for McCutchen to return to the running game and score more runs while batting first for the Bucs.
Jul 28 2011McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a double, homer and three RBI in Thursday's win at Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's two run homer, his 15th long ball of the season, gave Pittsburgh a three-run cushion late in the game. He's stolen just one base during the month of July, but one can't complain about 22 RBI, the most he's had in any month.
Jul 26 2011McCutchen, who went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, stole his first base in exactly a month Monday night in Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His steal of third base with two outs was probably more risky than necessary, but it was good to see McCutchen using his speed. After a tremendous start to July, the Pirates' center fielder has just six hits in his last 32 at-bats, making Monday night a step in the right direction. He now has 16 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
Jul 20 2011McCutchen hasn't tried stealing a base since June 25. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has 15 steals in 20 attempts but just isn't a natural base stealer in the mold of a Michael Bourn. He'll still likely finish the year with 25-plus steals, but his game has become a bit more production oriented -- McCutchen has a .953 OPS and 18 RBI in 16 July games.
Jul 20 2011McCutchen is in an 0-for-15 funk since hitting an RBI triple in Houston on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's left nine runners on base in his last three games. There's a pretty good chance that the All-Star festivities took something out of the outfielder and that he rebounds soon. McCutchen is 4-for-11 against Tuesday starter, Mike Leake.
Jul 16 2011McCutchen struck out three times Friday, but connected for a two-run triple -- his fourth -- in the Pirates' 4-0 victory over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The All-Star's hit broke the game open for the first-place Pirates. McCutchen has already tied his monthly high in RBI (15) for July, with half a month of ball left to add to that total.
Jul 9 2011McCutchen hit a towering shot to centerfield Friday for his 13th home run of the year. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who earlier during Friday's game was hit on his left bicep by an 88-mph Rodrigo Lopez fastball, has nearly eclipsed his career-highs in homers and RBI. The Pirates center fielder hit 16 home runs and drove in 56 in 154 games in 2010. This season, he already has 13 dingers and 49 RBI, numbers reflected by an .893 OPS mark.
Jul 7 2011McCutchen went 1-for-4 and drove in both Pittsburgh runs Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The All-Star snub, who made one error in center field and misplayed another ball into a Carlos Lee triple, continues to be at the center of attention for MLB's "whiff" on his non-selection to the mid-summer classic. If there's one weakness to his game, it's his throwing arm and penchant for throwing to the wrong base. Still, there's little excuse for him missing the All-Star Game.
Jul 6 2011McCutchen went hitless in three at-bats Tuesday and saw his consecutive doubles streak end at six games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Even with his 0-for-3 night, the All-Star snub is batting .364 (43-for-118) since the end of May.
Jul 4 2011McCutchen, who extended his doubles streak to five straight games Sunday, has 10 hits in his last 20 at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also holds a career .615 batting average (8-for-13) against Monday's starter for Houston, Brett Myers. The best thing that could happen for McCutchen's fantasy owners might be for him to not make the All-Star game as a sub and continue taking things out on opposing pitchers.
Jul 3 2011McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against the Nationals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He went 3-for-4 with an RBI in game one. Excellent day for McCutchen, going 5-for-8 and raising his batting average on the season to .283 to go along with 12 home runs and 43 RBI. It's hard to say whether McCutchen will make the NL All-Star team (especially since his teammate Joel Hanrahan is almost certain to be the Pirates' representative) but he has been very good at the plate throughout the season.
Jun 29 2011McCutchen blasted his 11th homer of the season in Tuesday's 7-6 victory over Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has 11 homers, 40 RBI and 15 stolen bases thus far in 2011. Last season, the Pirates center fielder entered the All-Star break with eight homers, 29 RBI and 20 steals. His offensive game continues to mature and he could find himself in the midsummer classic in a couple weeks.
Jun 27 2011McCutchen went 1-for-4 with his 15th steal of the season Saturday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's batting .380 with five stolen bases for the month of June, though he's hit just one dinger. McCutchen is 1-for-2 with a walk against Sunday starter, lefty Andrew Miller. Interestingly, the Pirates center fielder has only one steal on southpaws in 2011.
Jun 22 2011McCutchen snapped an 0-for-13 skid with three hits Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is hitting .283./.384/.468 for the season, though he has just one homer in the month of June. The Pirates offense has yet to put together a decent stretch of production, but McCutchen continues to put up numbers, with 10 dingers and 14 stolen bases.
Jun 18 2011The Pirates were thought to have moved McCutchen into the leadoff role for Friday's game against the Indians, but he's batting in his customary three spot. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been the National League's hottest hitter in June from the three hole -- going 23-for-50 for a .460 batting average. He saw his RBI total drop from 38 to 36 after the league turned a two-run double against the Mets into an error, but he'll get a chance to increase his totals in Cleveland over the weekend.
Jun 17 2011McCutchen raised his batting average to .294 on Thursday, going 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen extended his batting streak to five games. He carried an apparent 14-game streak into Thursday's contest, but the Mets successfully petitioned the league to change his two-run double June 11 to an error. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Pirates present some sort of counterclaim, as McCutchen's hard grounder to third baseman Daniel Murphy appeared to be a single and an error.
Jun 16 2011McCutchen (oblique) is in the Pirates' lineup Wednesday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's batting third for the Pirates in this one while it's a good sign that he's right back in the lineup after he suffered a minor injury on a pick-off attempt in Tuesday's game.
Jun 15 2011McCutchen extending his hitting streak to 13 games Tuesday, going 1-for-3 with his 12th stolen base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen nearly came out of the game after hurting himself on a pickoff throw at first base. During his head first slide back into the bag, the throw hit his side and first baseman Brett Wallace partially collided with McCutchen. He stayed in the game, however, and was checked out by the trainer at second base moments later -- apparently favoring his left oblique.
Jun 14 2011McCutchen is out of the lineup for Monday's game, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been swinging a hot bat lately with 20 hits in his last 11 games, including five doubles and a home run. He's had six multi-hit games in that span, as well. He'll get a rest Monday, though. Xavier Paul will start in center field.
Jun 5 2011McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also scored a run in the game. McCutchen, who got off to a slow start in the beginning of the season, has raised his batting average to .272 on the season to go along with nine home runs, 31 RBI and 33 runs. If the Pirates are going to continue to win ball games then players like McCutchen need to give their starting pitchers (who have all pitched very well this season) more run support.
Jun 2 2011McCutchen legged out two infield singles among his three hits Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates center fielder also robbed Jason Bay with a terrific feet-first catch while sliding into the fence in right-center. A big test for McCutchen will be how well he hits at PNC Park, where the Bucs play 10 times in 11 days starting Friday. He's hitting 100 points better on the road (.299) than at home (.198), though he finished 2010 with a .309 batting average at PNC Park.
Jun 1 2011McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a run scored Wednesday, raising his average to .256 for the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: .256 is still a long way off from his career .281 average, but he is on the way up from the .217 he had on May 6th. He still projects to be a top outfield option in fantasy leagues this season.
May 29 2011McCutchen belted his ninth homer -- a two-run, opposite-field shot -- in Saturday's 10-0 romp over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It looks like he's on his way to the 20/20 season some predicted for him last year. McCutchen has taken to the three spot in the lineup without any problem. It's interesting to note that he's hitting over 100 points higher on the road than at home (.304 to .198, respectively).
May 26 2011The Pirates moved McCutchen from first to third in the team's batting order Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who went 0-for-4, is batting .200 (9-for-45) from the third spot and .261 (35-for-134) as a leadoff hitter. Manager Clint Hurdle has envisioned McCutchen as his No. 3 hitter from Day 1 and fantasy owners need not worry too much about his numbers from different spots in the lineup. Last year, the Pirates center fielder hit better batting third (.302) than he did atop the order (.278).
May 23 2011McCutchen reached base three times Sunday, going 0-for-1 with two walks and a hit-by-pitch. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Detroit closer Jose Valverde nailed him between the shoulder blades with an errant 94-mph fastball. Fortunately for McCutchen and his fantasy owners, the center fielder stayed in the game with no apparent ill-effects.
May 22 2011McCutchen went 3-for-4 with two runs in Saturday's win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He extended his hitting streak to seven games after his performance Saturday. McCutchen has been a lot better at the plate since he was last benched for not running out a dropped third strike. His batting average on the season now stands at .259 to go along with eight home runs, 24 RBI and 26 runs.
May 20 2011McCutchen is batting .364 (8-for-22) since being benched for not running out a dropped third strike. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has six extra-base hits and four RBI in the six games following his benching. Furthermore, McCutchen's defense in center field has been nothing less than spectacular. He's raised his batting average to .247, a number that will be put to the test over the next five games of Pittsburgh's homestand. McCutchen is batting just .188/.263/.319 at PNC Park in 2011.
May 19 2011McCutchen belted his team-leading eighth homer of the season Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He entered Wednesday's contest hitting .281/.349/.509 for the month of May after compiling a .219/.330/.417 slash line in April.
May 18 2011McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI Monday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates' center fielder has tripled in both of his last two games. McCutchen's .242 batting average is the highest it's been since April 18 as he moves back closer to his career .280 mark.
May 13 2011McCutchen went 0-for-4 Friday, one night after being benched for not running out a dropped third strike. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who plays hard nearly all of the time, said that he's already put the incident behind him. Of greater concern is his batting average, which has dropped to .229 after consecutive 0-for-4 performances.
May 12 2011McCutchen is not in Thursday's starting lineup, according to the Pirates' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen hit two home runs Wednesday, but hasn't had a day off since April 20. He has found his stroke as of late, hitting .333 in his last five games, so have him back in your lineups when he returns to his.
May 11 2011McCutchen hit two towering homers in Tuesday's blowout loss to the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Five of his seven dingers have come with no one on base. McCutchen has a tendency to overswing when he has success with the long ball, making it important that he stays within himself in the short term. That said, the Pirates center fielder has 14 hits in his last 43 at-bats to raise his batting average 40 points to .242.
May 10 2011McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs in the Pirates' loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He entered the game with a poor track record against Ted Lilly, but McCutchen's first home run of the game came off the starter in the sixth inning. McCutchen already has seven home runs on the year, but fantasy owners were probably expecting more than his five steals to this point.
May 8 2011McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Saturday's win over the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His batting average on the season now sits at .227 to go along with five home runs and 17 RBI.
Apr 30 2011McCutchen homered for the second straight game and went 2-for-4 Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates' leadoff hitter also made a nice running grab in center field. McCutchen sometimes gets into trouble when he swings for the long ball, but he's had success with it in back-to-back contests. He now has five dingers on the year.
Apr 29 2011McCutchen homered and drew a walk Friday against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer was his fourth of the season and provides McCutchen fantasy owners hope that he's breaking out of his slump.
Apr 28 2011McCutchen went 0-for-4, with two strikeouts Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, batting .202, continues to struggle this season, he was recently moved to the top spot in the order but still cannot get on track. If owners have a suitable backup they may want to sit McCutchen until he figures things out.
Apr 24 2011McCutchen went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, two stolen bases and three runs scored Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also chipped in defensively with an assist. McCutchen has attempted four stolen bases in seven games since being moved from to the leadoff spot.
Apr 21 2011McCutchen (personal) returned to action Thursday, going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts and three stranded runners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He missed Wednesday's game to attend to his sick father. McCutchen is understandably preoccupied, but he should be alright to put back in fantasy lineups. Though his batting average is down to .212, McCutchen has always hit well at PNC Park -- where the Pirates play their next six games.
Apr 20 2011McCutchen has left the team for an indefinite time period to attend to a personal matter, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen returned to his home in Florida. Jose Tabata will take over McCutchen's spot in center field Wednesday, with Matt Diaz in left and Garrett Jones starting in right.
Apr 17 2011McCutchen went 3-for-3 with a homer and two RBI Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He reached base all five times against the Reds. McCutchen's also attempted three stolen bases in the last four games, another good sign.
Apr 15 2011The Pirates batted McCutchen leadoff Friday, but he went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Bucs are looking to jumpstart McCutchen. He has just two hits in his last 28 at-bats. The move to his customary top spot figures to relax the speedy McCutchen. He's yet to steal a base in 2011, but he's finally back where he can help fantasy owners in the stolen base category.
Apr 14 2011McCutchen has attempted only one stolen base -- unsuccessfully -- in 11 games thus far in 2011. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates moved McCutchen to third in the linep, presumably because he's the team's best hitter. He has just two hits in his last 21 at-bats, but hasn't looked particularly bad at the plate. Jose Tabata has settled into the leadoff spot quite nicely, making it likely McCutchen stays in the No. 3 spot through his slump. McCutchen is healthy and figures to turn things around soon.
Apr 4 2011McCutchen (neck) hit what was ultimately the decisive two-run homer in his return to the lineup Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The homer was McCutchen's second of the season. He hit only 16 homers last year, but there's some that believe he's capable of hitting 20+ homers this year.
Apr 3 2011McCutchen (neck) was scratched from Sunday's starting lineup, according to the Pirates' official Twitter page. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was in the initial lineup for Sunday's game, but apparently his neck is still a little sore. Consider McCutchen day-to-day.
Apr 1 2011McCutchen doubled and homered Friday, driving in two of the Pirates' six runs in a 6-3 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's primed for a big year as one of the National League's brightest young stars.
Mar 29 2011McCutchen has 19 hits in his last 40 spring at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's got a chance to hit .300 with a fair share of homers and 30-plus steals as he moves into the No. 3 spot in the Pirates' lineup.
Mar 27 2011McCutchen, who will start the season as the team's No. 3 hitter, has compiled a .396 batting average in 53 Grapefruit League at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The big question is whether he'll run as much out of the three hole as he did as a leadoff hitter. Pittsburgh flip-flopped Lyle Overbay and Pedro Alvarez in the batting order Saturday. With a more mature hitter batting behind McCutchen (in Overbay), the young star figures to get plenty of chances to pad to his stolen bases total. McCutchen appears set for a huge 2011.
Mar 16 2011The Pirates will still utilize McCutchen's speed if he bats third in the lineup instead of leadoff, according to the Pirates' Web site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Clint Hurdle says McCutchen will continue to run, even if he bats in front of Pedro Alvarez. "Pedro is a power hitter in growth," Hurdle said. "It's not like we're running with [Albert] Pujols up at the plate. It's a whole different complex, a whole different dynamic. We want to keep this mindset of going, of being aggressive, especially with Andrew. I do think that's a part of his game that he can continue to open up more and we don't want to take that away at all if he ends up in the three spot." The threat of McCutchen's speed could actually result in more fastballs for Alvarez. Even so, it's hard seeing McCutchen steal as much if he does bats third.
Mar 12 2011X-rays on McCutchen's left wrist were negative and he is scheduled to start Saturday's split-squad game against Toronto, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "It's not serious at all," McCutchen said. "The doctor said there may be some nerve irritation around that area. I wasn't nervous as far as it might be broken or fractured." McCutchen owners can breathe a sigh of relief, as there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about here.
Mar 11 2011McCutchen left Friday's game with discomfort in his left wrist, Pirates.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates haven't provided any further information about the injury, other than to say that McCutchen will be further evaluated upon his return to the team's spring training headquarters. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Feb 28 2011Andrew McCutchen batted third for the second time in as many games Sunday, going 3-for-3 with a stolen base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen split time between batting leadoff and hitting third in 2010, finishing with the exact OPS (.824) in both situations. Manager Clint Hurdle appears to like McCutchen from the No. 3 spot, making it possible that "Cutch" drives in more runs than projected.
Sep 29 2010McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: By nearly every metric, McCutchen is stringing together his best month of the season in September. He's hitting .341 (31-for-91) with four homers, 15 RBI and five stolen bases. Whether he's recovered from an undisclosed injury or found a second wind, McCutchen is closing out 2010 with a bang.
Sep 19 2010McCutchen belted his second homer in as many days Sunday afternoon against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Neither dinger was a cheapie, with both reaching bullpens beyond the center field wall. McCutchen's long ball was a solo effort; 15 of his 16 home runs have come with no one on base. He needs one more homer to tie his professional high -- McCutchen combined for 17 split between High-A and Double-A in 2006.
Sep 18 2010McCutchen socked his 15th homer against the Diamondbacks Saturday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He drove in two runs, walked two times and was caught stealing, a day after sitting out with a stomach virus. McCutchen now has eight RBI in his last seven games after driving 44 in his first 133 contests.
Sep 17 2010McCutchen (stomach virus) was able to pinch hit Friday night against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He drew a ninth-inning walk and ended up scoring the winning run. As a result, it looks like McCutchen could return to the starting lineup as soon as Saturday.
Sep 12 2010McCutchen hit a two-out, three-run double on Sunday, lifting the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who had been hitless in his previous four at-bats, recorded three RBI in a game for the first time this season. He also threw out Joey Votto at third base as the potential NL MVP attempted to advance on a fly ball out. McCutchen has struggled for much of the 2010 season, but everything worked out well for him on this one September day.
Sep 1 2010McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk and his 27th stolen base on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is actually struggling to the point where some are wondering if the constant losing -- Pittsburgh's lost 38 of its last 42 road games -- has impacted his daily effort.
Aug 31 2010McCutchen is back in the lineup on Monday after getting Sunday off, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is 4-for-6 against Monday's starter, Carlos Zambrano, and is 12-for-25 this year at Wrigley Field.
Aug 30 2010McCutchen is not in the lineup for Sunday's game, reports the Pirates' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has started the last 28 games for the Pirates, but part of the reasoning for the day off could also be his poor performance in August - he has a .205 batting average for the month. He will continue to be the everyday center fielder, but he looks to be finishing off his sophomore season on a whimper -- at least away from PNC Park.
Aug 29 2010McCutchen went 0-for-5 on Saturday and has two hits in his last 25 at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The luster of McCutchen's recent hot streak at home has worn off and he continues to struggle on the road. He continues to be the weak link among the team's top three hitters (including Jose Tabata and Neil Walker) in the batting order. His .273 batting average is the lowest it's been since April, and his home/road split (.300/.249) illustrates his problems away from PNC Park.
Aug 21 2010McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a walk and his 26th stolen base Friday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: We noted the likelihood of a breakout for McCutchen little over a week ago and he has three dingers and five stolen bases since Aug. 8. He continues to play with a chip on his shoulder, something his fantasy owners need to take advantage of.
Aug 20 2010McCutchen smacked his third homer in four games Thursday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The three-homer barrage comes after McCutchen hit just two homers in his first 50 games at PNC Park in 2010.
Aug 19 2010McCutchen belted a homer to straight away center field for the second time in three games on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen continues to hit better at home (.308) than on the road (.258). He had just two dingers in his first 50 games at PNC Park, however, before his recent outbreak. McCutchen figures to rake at least for the next week, as the team plays all of its games at PNC Park.
Aug 17 2010McCutchen stole his fourth base in eight games Monday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has turned on his jets, attempting as many steals in the last eight games -- five -- as he'd done in the previous 34 contests. He took a knee to the head on his stolen base slide, causing his batting helmet to fly off, but did not appear injured. McCutchen has turned his game up a gear and fantasy owners are reaping the benefits.
Aug 17 2010McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two runs scored and a stolen base Monday as the Pirates defeated the Marlins, 7-1. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen only has two home runs in the month of August, both of which were solo shots. The problem is those are the only two RBI he has in the month overall.
Aug 15 2010McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a triple and his 24th stolen base on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's successfully stolen three of four bases in his last six games. McCutchen appears to be a strong Week 20 play with the Pirates playing all seven games at home. McCutchen is batting .307 at PNC Park as compared to .260 on the road. He also seems a little ticked off with something to prove after enduring a rough patch the last couple weeks.
Aug 13 2010McCutchen snapped an 0-for-13 skid on Friday, going 2-for-4 with his 23rd stolen base of the year. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has attempted three stolen bases in his last five games, a positive sign for fantasy owners.
Aug 12 2010McCutchen went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and is hitting .233 (24-for-103) since June. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He hasn't partaken in the Pirates' renaissance of youth -- as has Jose Tabata, Neil Walker and Pedro Alvarez -- over the last couple months. McCutchen's OPS has dropped from .836 to .782 since last year. It's possible that he wears down the last part of the year, given his numerous injuries, and that the Pirates rest him more than once a month. Still, he ranks as one of Pittsburgh's brightest keepers going forward.
Aug 4 2010McCutchen played through a sliding defensive effort in center field on Wednesday that created one of the biggest divots in PNC Park history. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen slid coming in toward home plate on a sinking liner, only to have his left knee plug in the water-sogged outfield. He said his knee was uninjured. 93It92s all right," McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "That92s a horrible patch of grass that I slid in, I guess. That was weird. I92ve never slid like that before. If it would have just stayed there, it would have been fine. I92ve never put a divot like that in the grass. It92s pretty deep. Hopefully, we can get that fixed.94
Aug 3 2010McCutchen left Tuesday's game with a neck contusion, according to the Pirates' Twitter feed. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He took a Mike Leake pitch to the back of his neck in the bottom of the second inning and was replaced by Delwyn Young. X-rays came back negative, so look for McCutchen to return to the lineup in a day or two.
Aug 1 2010McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has just two home runs since May and stolen two stolen bases since June 25. The move back to leadoff from the third spot in the order hasn't reignited McCutchen's speed, though he's been hampered by a shoulder injury the last 10 days or so. Visions of a 20 homer/50 steal season were likely a bit optimistic, but the potential is definitely there.
Jul 31 2010McCutchen (shoulder) is listed in Friday's starting lineup against St. Louis, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who was held out as a late scratch on Thursday, has two hits in seven lifetime at-bats against Cards' starter Chris Carpenter.
Jul 30 2010McCutchen (shoulder) was scratched from Thursday's lineup after experiencing soreness during batting practice, the Pirates' official Twitter page reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was in the original starting lineup, but the shoulder flared up while he was swinging and he was pulled in favor of Jose Tabata. Go ahead and remove McCutchen from your lineup if you can. He remains day-to-day for the time being, so be sure to monitor his status.
Jul 29 2010McCutchen appeared to re-injure his right shoulder while making a catch against the wall on Wednesday, but stayed in the game. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Initially it looked as though he would exit the game, but he passed a visit by the team trainer, who had immediately run out into the outfield to consult with McCutchen. It wouldn't be surprising to see McCutchen removed as a precaution at some later point in Wednesday's contest.
Jul 26 2010McCutchen (shoulder) showed no limitations in his return to the lineup on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen scaled the center field wall with his right shoulder on Chris Denorfia's dinger and showed no ill-effects. He should be fine for Week 17 and Tuesday's game in Colorado.
Jul 25 2010McCutchen (shoulder) went 1-for-4 in his return to the lineup on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Consider McCutchen safe to activate for the upcoming week.
Jul 24 2010Manager John Russell said that he has his "fingers crossed" that he'll be able to pencil McCutchen's (shoulder) name into Sunday's lineup, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen went through a complete batting practice prior to Saturday's game. He'll need a big game on Sunday -- if he does suit up -- for weekly fantasy owners who started him in Week 16. The fact that the Pirates lost their third straight game at home on Saturday probably won't impact his chances of getting back in the lineup too much, but it can't hurt.
Jul 23 2010McCutchen (shoulder) isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against San Diego, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The most recent timetable for McCutchen's return remains Saturday or Sunday. Jose Tabata has manned center field in McCutchen's absence since Sunday.
Jul 22 2010McCutchen (shoulder) may be kept out until after the weekend, according to Pirates GM Neal Huntington, KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen hit off a tee and did light throwing on Thursday, but was still not able to take batting practice.
Jul 21 2010McCutchen (shoulder) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Brewers, the Pirates' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As a result, Jose Tabata will get another game atop the Bucs order and in center field on Wednesday.
Jul 20 2010McCutchen (shoulder) reported "major improvement" on Tuesday but was limited to running and outfield work, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "The progress I made the past couple days has been surprising," McCutchen said. Of a return, he added "Maybe sooner than I was thinking." Players typically want to come back sooner than when their managers give approval. Manager John Russell said that McCutchen won't return until he goes through a practice which includes hitting and throwing.
Jul 19 2010McCutchen (shoulder) isn't in Monday's lineup, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jose Tabata will move from left field to center, with Lastings Milledge in left and Ryan Church in right. McCutchen is considered day-to-day, so be sure to check the Pirates' lineup again on Tuesday if he's part of your fantasy team.
Jul 18 2010Manager John Russell refused to rule out McCutchen (shoulder) for Monday's game, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: When McCutchen was asked directly whether he'd play on Monday against Milwaukee, he responded by saying "we'll see." Even if the center fielder doesn't play on Monday, then there's still a chance he plays six times in Week 16 as the team has no off day. McCutchen's missed just one game this year.
Jul 16 2010McCutchen's 2-for-4 performance on Friday included an opposite field double and an RBI single. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's double was struck with authority, hitting half way up the right field wall. His single produced the Pirates' second run. Given the fact that McCutchen entered Friday's game with a .323/.262 home/road batting average split, good things loom ahead for McCutchen. Pittsburgh plays its next nine games at PNC Park and still has 41 of 73 remaining contests at home.
Jul 7 2010The Pirates have moved McCutchen to leadoff from third in the lineup on Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been pressing at the plate for over a month, giving the team a reason to move him out of a run-producing spot. He's been slumping since the team recalled Jose Tabata and inserted him as the leadoff hitter. McCutchen put up great numbers while hitting first as a rookie, but has one stolen base in 12 games this year batting atop the order. He's hitting .242 (29-for-120) since May, with one homer, 10 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Jul 7 2010McCutchen was neither named to the All-Star team nor listed among the NL Final Vote candidates. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: NL manager Charlie Manuel, who referred to Andrew as "Andy," admitted that he was swayed by Evan Meek's performance against the Phillies on Thursday. For his part, McCutchen has some decent numbers -- .295 average, 50 runs scored and 20 steals -- but has slumped lately. Since May, he's batting .262 (28-for-107) with one home run and 10 RBI.
Jul 2 2010McCutchen is batting .265 with one homer and 10 RBI since the end of May after going 0-for-4 on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates should rest him for a game or two, giving him a chance to re-charge his batteries. McCutchen's home/road splits are also telling -- he's hitting .331 at PNC Park and .272 on the road. Pittsburgh plays its next three games at home. It's easy to forget that 2010 is McCutchen's first full year in the majors because he's already Pittsburgh's best player.
Jun 30 2010McCutchen went 2-for-4 on Wednesday to raise his batting average back over the .300 level (.302). ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Wednesday marked the first game in 10 that McCutchen collected multiple hits. He uncharacteristically slammed his helmet after lining out to right field Wednesday afternoon. McCutchen's the future in Pittsburgh. Sometimes it's easy to forget he's just 23-year old.
Jun 26 2010McCutchen doubled and stole his 19th base of the season on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He hadn't had a hit since Saturday. Interestingly, McCutchen said before Friday's contest that he hadn't been running very frequently because he didn't want to take the bat out of the hands of Garrett Jones, who follows him in the order. McCutchen stole second on Friday during a swinging strike by Jones.
Jun 24 2010McCutchen, who went hitless in three at-bats on Thursday, doesn't have a base hit since Saturday (0-for-12). ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who entered Thursday with a .136 batting average (3-for-22) in two-out RISP situations, stranded three more baserunners in scoring position. On the positive side, he did make a pair of fine running grabs in center field.
Jun 19 2010McCutchen went 2-for-2 with three walks and four runs scored in the Pirates' win over the Indians Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also nabbed his 18th base of the season in the game. The three walks were a season-high for McCutchen, who looks to be permanently bounced from the Pirates' Jose Tabata-occupied leadoff spot.
Jun 16 2010McCutchen (calf) is in Wednesday's lineup, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's left calf cramped up on Tuesday, but he'll remain in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox, batting third.
Jun 15 2010McCutchen's left calf cramped up in the Pirates' loss to the White Sox Tuesday, Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The injury came in the ninth inning, after he had gone 3-for-4 with three steals and an RBI. The steals push him to 17 on the season and tie him with Jose Reyes for second place in the NL. The cramp should not be much of an issue.
Jun 9 2010McCutchen, who went 0-for-4 and stranded three baserunners on Wednesday, swiped his 14th bag of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's easy to forget that McCutchen has only been in the big leagues for a year. The Pirates have heaped plenty of pressure upon him. Despite a RISP batting average of just .222 (10-for-45), McCutchen has exceeded organizational expectations.
Jun 6 2010McCutchen hit his first homer at home on Saturday and missed the cycle by a triple. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has three RBI in his last two PNC Park games after starting the series with two in 24 home contests. He enjoys leading off: "I feel like I can do a lot from the leadoff spot," McCutchen said. "I can start things off. I can get on base. I can steal bases. I can hit doubles. I can hit a home run. I just feel like I can do a lot more compared to the three-hole. I enjoy it, and I'm trying to take advantage of it."
Jun 2 2010McCutchen walked two times and picked up his 13 stolen base of the season on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen swiped second base of lefty Ted Lilly without a throw from the catcher. McCutchen fittingly scored on Neil Walker's first major league dinger, less than two years after both players watched from the PNC Park stands (but did not play) as Pittsburgh's brightest prospects during the month of September 2008.
May 31 2010McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a walk from the leadoff spot in Monday's win. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen failed to attempt a steal, shaking his head after starting to second one time but racing back to first. Chicago starter Randy Wells hasn't allowed a stolen base in 2010, but there's little doubt McCutchen is currently tentative on the bases. He also backed off on a fly ball to left center with left fielder Ryan Church in the neighborhood, missing his third catchable ball in the last couple of weeks. Regardlesss, these things will likely pass for the second-year player, who remains one of Pittsburgh's best chances to help return the team to respectability.
May 29 2010McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen returned to the leadoff spot on Saturday after struggling to connect on extra base hits out of the three hole over the last month and promptly hit his first home run in over two weeks. More importantly than his home run totals, McCutchen's move back to the leadoff spot should get off off and running again. He's only stolen two bases in May after stealing 10 in April.
May 24 2010McCutchen delivered his first multi-hit performance in eight contests on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who hit five triples in his first 17 games as a rookie, legged out his first three-base hit on Sunday. His gap drive to right-center bounced just two times before right fielder Melky Cabrera picked it off the grass, but McCutchen made it to third with his blazing speed.
May 23 2010McCutchen has six hits, all singles, in his last 26 at-bats. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: More troubling for fantasy owners is the fact that McCutchen has attempted just four stolen bases in his last 24 contests. Despite holding a .324 batting average at PNC Park, McCutchen has no homers and two RBI in 74 at-bats at home.
May 18 2010McCutchen went 1-for-4 Tuesday night and is batting .329 in 145 at-bats for the Bucs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen made up for an error Monday night by throwing out Jayson Werth at the plate on Tuesday. McCutchen has attempted just four stolen bases since injuring an ankle on May 2, after attempting 12 steals in the month of April. Of course, moving to third in the order has transformed his responsibilities a bit, too.
May 14 2010McCutchen went a perfect 5-for-5 with a homer, two RBI and two stolen bases on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who leads the National League with 12 steals, hadn't stolen a base in 14 games as the team's No. 3 hitter.
May 9 2010McCutchen singled on Sunday, making him 10-for-16 in Week 5. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There was some concern that McCutchen might miss a chunk of time with his stiff ankle, but fantasy owners who kept him active have been well-rewarded.
May 7 2010McCutchen (ankle) went 3-for-4 with a double and scored a run in Friday's loss to the Cardinals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is probably still feeling some soreness in his ankle, but it doesn't look like it's going to stop him from being productive at the plate. He now has three consecutive multi-hit games.
May 6 2010McCutchen (ankle) went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and RBI in Thursday's 11-1 win over the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been fighting through an ankle injury, but was able to get a breather on Thursday, getting lifted from the game in the fifth inning after Pittsburgh built an 11-0 lead.
May 6 2010McCutchen (ankle) started Wednesday and went 2-for-4 with an RBI double and a run scored. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'd missed the last three games with stiffness in his ankle, but looked like he hadn't missed a beat in his return to the lineup.
May 4 2010McCutchen (ankle) will be out of the lineup for the second straight game on Tuesday, the Pirates' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's optimistic about returning on Wednesday, but it will likely be a pre-game determination made based on his progress in the next 24 hours. Ryan Church is starting in center field for the Pirates on Tuesday night.
May 3 2010Stiffness in McCutchen's ankle forced him from Sunday's game, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After the game, McCutchen reported no swelling in his ankle. "I think I was more scared than I was hurt," McCutchen said. "I twisted it pretty good." He'll be re-evaluated on Tuesday. With the Pirates starting a nine-game homestand on Tuesday, it's probably a good idea to keep McCutchen active in weekly leagues, even if he sits out a game or two. Since coming to the majors, the center fielder bats nearly 60 points better at home than he does on the road (.318 to .259, respectively).
May 2 2010McCutchen, who left Sunday's game in the sixth inning, has been diagnosed with a mild right ankle sprain and is considered day-to-day, reports Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen injured the ankle in a close play at first base, but initially stayed in the game and made a fine running grab in center field. The Pirates are off on Monday, so it's conceivable McCutchen is able to go without missing a game, but check the lineups before you count on production from him.
Apr 28 2010McCutchen, back to hitting third, had a big day in Wednesday's 14-inning win over Milwaukee, going 4-for-7 with his second and third homers of the year. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He bopped one in the top of the first and the second in the top of the 10th, and raised his batting average to .303. Obviously, McCutchen isn't a pure speed guy; he does have some power, and could end up going 20/40 or even better than that.
Apr 26 2010McCutchen lead off Monday night in Milwaukee, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has batted both second and third in the last two games, so why not try leading off3F Cutch hit first in the order exclusively during his 108-game rookie campaign with glowing results. The Pirates are struggling for any kind of spark. McCutchen is hitting .278/.350/.361 with 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts. He has just one home run and two RBI through 18 games.
Apr 24 2010McCutchen will hit third in the Bucs' lineup for the first time in his career on Saturday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has hit second for all 16 games in 2010 after batting leadoff 108 times, exclusively, in his rookie campaign. McCutchen was jumping at pitches Friday night. Moving him to the No. 3 spot should help his RBI numbers -- he has just one right now. In 2009, McCutchen totaled 54 RBI in 108 games.
Apr 23 2010McCutchen went 0-for-4 at the plate on Friday, ending his consecutive streak of reaching base at 11 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen, who threw a runner out at the plate, looked uncomfortable at the plate against Roy Oswalt. McCutchen continues to help fantasy owners with nine stolen bases, but he's 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position thus far in 2010.
Apr 21 2010McCutchen went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk, but swiped two bases in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He now has nine steals to lead the majors. Don't be surprised to see him pick up 60 or more this year.
Apr 20 2010McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored in the Pirates' loss to the Brewers Tuesay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen was the only Pirate able to muster multiple hits off Dave Bush and co., and the doubles were his first since Opening Day.
Apr 14 2010McCutchen improved to 5-for-5 in the stolen base department Tuesday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen's current stolen base projection sits at exactly 100. So long as he steals around 30 bags the Bucs will likely be happy. Of course, fantasy owners might prefer the Rickey Henderson-like 100 total better, but that's not going to happen. Interestingly, Cutch came up clutching his left knee after stealing a base in the eighth inning. It initially looked like something to be concerned with, but McCutchen then burned around third base to score on Garrett Jones' dribbler through the right side of the infield, putting his fantasy owners at ease.
Apr 11 2010McCutchen hit his first homer of the season, a solo shot, in Sunday's 15-6 loss to Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The RBI was his first of the year. Expectations are sky high for McCutchen in 2010. So far he's batting .259 with a pair of stolen bases.
Apr 5 2010McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a double, stolen base and two runs scored on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen missed hitting his first homer by about four feet to straight away center field against George Sherrill.
Apr 2 2010McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a double Friday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen looks ready to pick up where he left off last season. He batted second in the lineup once again, just as manager John Russell recently said he would throughout the 2010 season.
Mar 29 2010Manager John Russell intends to move McCutchen out of the leadoff spot to second in the order on occasion, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In this scenario, Russell will move the pitcher from ninth to eighth in the lineup. The Pittsburgh manager hopes to give McCutchen more RBI opportunities. McCutchen drove in 54 runs in 108 games batting leadoff as a rookie in 2009.
Mar 28 2010McCutchen is continuing to hit this spring -- batting .333 (14-for-42) -- after a strong rookie season in 2009. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: GM Neal Huntington is looking for McCutchen to take his game to the next level. "He's hungrier," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "He's in great shape again. He's ready to establish himself and hopefully avoid that sophomore slump." Provided that McCutchen successfully navigates the book that opponents compiled on him last summer, he could be in store for an even stronger 2010 -- especially in the area of stolen bases.
Mar 18 2010McCutchen was successful on one of two stolen base attempts on Wednesday, giving him three steals this spring. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen stole 22 bases in four months as a rookie last year and is looking to improve upon those numbers.
Mar 8 2010Pirates manager John Russell will look for McCutchen to steal more bases in 2010, the Pirates' Web site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "We'd like for him to be able to run more and get himself in scoring position," manager John Russell said. "The guys we have in the middle of our lineup now, we feel real confident that we can get some baserunners moving." McCutchen swiped 22 bases in 27 attempts as a rookie last year. He stole a career-high 34 bases at Triple-A in 2008.
Mar 6 2010McCutchen went 2-for-2 with a walk and his first stolen base on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen batted leadoff but will likely slide down in the order at some point during the season.
Mar 3 2010McCutchen lead off and went 1-for-2 in the Pirates' Grapefruit League opener on Wednesday afternoon. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It looks like he'll remain atop the Pirates' lineup again this season, where his speed should definitely be an asset to a lineup that will need to manufacture their runs with a 3-4-5 crew that will likely include Garrett Jones, Ryan Doumit and Jeff Clement this season.
Sep 29 2009McCutchen is batting .417 (20-for-48) since Sept. 16. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going 3-for-4 with a walk on Monday, McCutchen raised his batting average to .286. About the only question mark regarding the rookie heading into the 2010 campaign is whether he continues to bat out of the leadoff spot or moves down in the order.
Sep 24 2009McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two doubles in the Pirates' loss to the Reds Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hits extended McCutchen's streak to 10. He has gone 15-for-41 with six extra-base hits in those games.
Sep 23 2009McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a home run in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen hit his first home run in September and stretched his hitting streak to nine games.
Sep 20 2009McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He narrowly missed his 12th homer with a drive to the center field wall. After going through an early September slump, McCutchen has hits in five straight games (7-for-21). The rookie holds a .302 batting average at PNC Park, where the Bucs play their next 10 games.
Sep 12 2009McCutchen is batting .147 (5-for-34) in September after going hitless in four at-bats Friday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has just one extra-base hit and one stolen base since the end of August. McCutchen's slump may be an indication of a long season catching up to him. Whatever the reason, he's not winning any last second votes for NL Rookie of the Year.
Sep 2 2009McCutchen went 0-for-1 but walked four times in Tuesday's loss to the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen might be trying some patience at the plate as he had gone his last six games without drawing a walk.
Aug 29 2009McCutchen missed hitting for the cycle by a triple on Friday, going 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's locked in both at the plate and in the field. At some point the Pirates might decide to move him down in the order the way they did with another Pittsburgh outfielder 20 years ago, Barry Bonds. Of course Bonds was initially a flop when he was moved out of the leadoff spot and was quickly moved back to the top of the order.
Aug 26 2009McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk-off two-run homer, a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's win over the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen continues to be a bright spot in an otherwise ordinary Pirates season. He is looking like a 20/20 stalwart of the future.
Aug 24 2009McCutchen stole his 14th base in 15 attempts Sunday afternoon against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was somewhat surprising that McCutchen didn't try to steal more often against Homer Bailey and his slow delivery, considering he reached base three times. He already has the green light to steal whenever he wants, but he'll probably steal even more frequently in 2010 when he's more used to the league.
Aug 23 2009McCutchen reached base three times on Saturday, walking twice and singling in five at-bats against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's proven remarkably consistent, batting .284, .277 and .288 in June, July and August, respectively. It's been a long time since the Pirates have had such an exciting player. McCutchen doesn't turn 23 until October and he's already become a leader on the team.
Aug 13 2009McCutchen walked three times and stole three bases Monday night against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen holds a BB:K ratio of 8:3 in his last 10 games after beginning his career with a 16:42 mark. The Pirates rookie had attempted just one stolen base since July 19 prior to Monday. Manager John Russell has given McCutchen a green light to run whenever he wants. The center fielder has now swiped 12 of 13 bags.
Aug 10 2009The Pirates have given McCutchen the green light to steal, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has attempted only 10 steals through the first 57 games of his major league career. "Teams are obviously paying a lot of attention to him," manager John Russell said. "When Andrew gets on, they know he's very capable. He's seeing a lot of throws over, a lot of slide-steps. He wants to make sure he's got the right lead, a good jump, and he's trying to be smart about it. At some point, he'll be more aggressive."
Aug 8 2009McCutchen (headache) returned to the lineup Thursday and went 2-for-4 with a pair of walks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He continues to exceed expectations as the best player on the Pirates squad. McCutchen holds a line of .296/.358/.496 in 55 games. Even his mistakes are working out -- he ran threw a stop sign at third base against Arizona and easily beat the throw home.
Aug 6 2009McCutchen missed Wednesday's game with headaches, a result of taking a glove to the face while running down the first base line Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He felt better on Wednesday, but the Pirates took the cautious route by sitting him down for a day. It appears the headaches are not too serious and McCutchen could return to the lineup as soon as Thursday.
Aug 4 2009McCutchen collected a pair of hits, including a solo homer, in Monday's 8-4 loss to Washington. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has been on a power binge lately with four home runs in his last three games. On the negative side, McCutchen hasn't stolen a base since July 19.
Aug 2 2009McCutchen went 4-for-5 with three home runs and six RBI in the Pirates' win over the Nationals Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was a grand slam away from the home run cycle, and he had a 4-for-4 night going until he grounded into a double play in the eighth. McCutchen had double-digit home run seasons in the minors in 2007 and 2006, but his power should be considered gravy on top of his average and speed.
Jul 20 2009McCutchen had two hits and stole his eighth base in eight attempts Saturday night. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After going through a bit of a slump, the Pirates center fielder has three multihit performances in his last four games. Interestingly, McCutchen holds a .246 home batting average while hitting .313 away from PNC Park.
Jul 12 2009McCutchen snapped out of a 2-for-15 funk with a double and home run against the Phillies on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates rookie also swiped his seventh base in as many attempts. He's the closest thing that the Pirates have to as an untouchable in trade talks.
Jul 11 2009McCutchen went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and an error Friday night against the Phillies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The sensational rookie is down to .283 and has started every game since the Pirates recalled him on June 4.
Jul 5 2009McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI on Friday, giving him doubles in three straight games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also stole his fifth base in as many attempts after successfully stealing 19 bases in 34 tries at Triple-A in 2008. Despite batting exclusively out of the leadoff spot, McCutchen has driven in 20 runs in 28 games.
Jul 3 2009McCutchen snapped a 1-for-20 slide with a pair of hits Tuesday night against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's chased a few more bad pitches than he did immediately upon his recall, but there's no denying he's already become the Bucs' most dynamic player. He had an amazing 18 RBI in his first 20 contests as a leadoff hitter, but hasn't driven in a run in six games since. The Pirates might be wise to give McCutchen his first day off in the major leagues to recharge his batteries.
Jun 28 2009McCutchen saw his 13-game hitting streak end on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He did take a walk, get hit by a pitch, score two runs and steal his fourth base, putting together another productive game.
Jun 26 2009McCutchen went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, including a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, in Thursday's win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie outfielder's average is now up to .330, and he's hit in 13 straight games.
Jun 23 2009McCutchen tripled in his third straight game on Sunday, giving him five in 14 games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen already had hit eight triples for Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates center fielder seemed ready right out of spring training, but the organization was wise to wait until June to recall him, saving another season in which he can become a free agent.
Jun 22 2009McCutchen delivered a bases-clearing triple Saturday night against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He also made a tremendous over-the-head grab in center field, showing why the team wasn't afraid to deal Gold Glover Nate McLouth.
Jun 20 2009McCutcheon delivered his fourth multi-hit game in his last five, going 2-for-5 against the Rockies on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutcheon's night included his third triple in 15 games, bringing his line up to .338/.375/.515. He should have at least a couple years in Pittsburgh before the Pirates need to trade him.
Jun 18 2009McCutchen mashed an 89-mph Francisco Liriano fastball for his first major league home run on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's continued his hot hitting, stringing together a .339 batting average through the first 13 games of his career. McCutchen has at least one hit in all but two games.
Jun 12 2009McCutchen went 0-for-5 Wednesday and holds a 1:6 BB:K ratio after seven games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen has played well in center field, but expecting him to maintain a batting average over .300 -- he's at .324 currently -- might be a bit too much to ask from the recent callup.
Jun 10 2009McCutchen missed hitting for the cycle on Monday when his fly ball to center field was caught at the base of the wall. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His patience at the plate has served him well, but it will be interesting to see how he does when the league gets a book on him. McCutchen failed to score from third on a ground out and took a questionable route in the outfield, but so far he's already looked like the Pirates' best player in his short time in the bigs.
Jun 9 2009McCutchen collected a career-high four hits, including a pair of triples and a double, with two runs scored and RBI in Monday92s extra-inning loss at Atlanta. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen entered Monday92s game without any extra-base hits in 18 at-bats so this was certainly the best performance of his young career.
Jun 6 2009McCutchen went 1-for-5 with two RBI in the Pirates' win over the Astros Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has now driven in three runs on the season. He stole a first base in his MLB debut June 4, but has not attempted one since. That is not completely surprising, seeing as how he has only been on base once in the two games since.
Jun 5 2009McCutchen batted leadoff for the Pirates in his major league debut on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He figures to stay there and create havoc for opposing pitchers along with No. 2 batter Nyjer Morgan. The Pirates also put McCutchen in center field, with Morgan staying in left. McCutchen showed off his dynamic speed on several occasions, stealing a base without drawing a throw, nearly legging out a routine grounder to short and running from first to third again without even drawing a throw. Look for that speed to continue.
Jun 4 2009Batting leadoff in his major league debut, McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a walk, three runs scored, an RBI and a stolen base. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen certainly got off on the right foot after the Nate McLouth trade opened the door for him.
Jun 3 2009With the trade of Nate McLouth to the Braves, the Pirates are promoting McCutchen, according a team press release. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen had a .303/.361/.493 line with four home runs, 20 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 41 runs scored along with a solid 24:17 K.BB ratio with Triple-A Indianapolis. The .854 OPS is an improvement over the .770 he posted last year, and while he likely won't hit for much power, he should be a solid source of runs and steals.
Mar 29 2009GM Neal Huntington acknowledges that McCutchen is making the decision to send him to Triple-A a difficult one, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "He's making it tough," Huntington said. "But you don't make a short-term decision with long-term ramifications. Organizations make mistakes when they send a player to the majors because he's their best option. Andrew right now is our best defensive outfielder, and he's done a lot of other good things. But we want him to be a complete player. He has to be ready." It sounds like McCutchen is still headed to the minors to start the season.
Mar 28 2009McCutchen went 5-for-5 with a homer and three doubles on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen is batting .432 in his last 37 at-bats, but manager John Russell continues to say that the prized prospect needs more work in the minors. "We're still in evaluation as to what he needs to accomplish to play in the big leagues," Russell said. "He's done some very good things in this camp, but we have to do what's best for him and what's best for the Pirates." It's abundantly clear that keeping McCutchen's major league clock from ticking is priority No. 1.
Mar 25 2009McCutchen appears likely to start the 2009 season at Triple-A, the Pirates' Web site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This comes as no big surprise. Manager John Russell often points out that McCutchen would just be coming out of college at age 22 and entering the draft. "You have to keep that in perspective," said Russell. "If he went to college, then we would just be getting him to start his development." McCutchen's probable ETA remains June, after the organization secures another year of his MLB clock.
Sep 2 2008The Pirates are unlikely to recall McCutchen in September, according to the Pirates' Web site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team wants to give McCutchen some time off before winter ball. It also doesn't necessarily want to move someone off the 40-man roster for him. "We're asking him to go to winter ball, and the reason he's going to winter ball is to work on some developmental things we've laid out for him," GM Neal Huntington said. "If he does go to winter ball, it's probably best that he gets some recovery time before it and then before spring training."
Sep 1 2008McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a steal on Sunday for Triple-A Indianapolis and is finishing the year in fine form. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .350 over his last 10 games and has a year-to-date line of .284/.373/.400 with 34 stolen bases. He may see some September at-bats and has a good shot at being in the everyday lineup in 2009.
Jan 28 2007McCutchen has gained 10 pounds of muscle since the end of last season, according to the Beaver County Times. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates' top prospect batted a combined .294 with 17 homers, 74 RBI and 23 steals between Single-A and Double-A in 2006. "I feel a lot stronger and like I92m ready to have a better year this year," McCutchen said. While he's not expected to play in the majors until 2008, the 20-year-old center fielder could force his way into the mix at some point during the 2007 season with a hot start in the minors.
Mar 14 2006The Pirates reassigned McCutchen to their minor-league camp on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 19-year-old center fielder batted just .176 (3-for-17) with the Pirates, but impressed the organization with his maturity. "He showed poise," manager Jim Tracy told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "He was not fazed at all by being in major-league camp. He's going to be a major-league player, a very good major-league player."
Jun 11 2003McCutchen went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the Pirates' win over the Mets on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The double extended McCutchen's current hit streak to 10 games (18-for-38), and he has spent the entirety of that streak in the third spot of the order. McCutchen has hit .310 in 26 games at No. 3 compared to .261 in 34 at No. 1, but six of his 10 home runs and seven of his 11 steals have come from the leadoff spot.
Jun 8 2003McCutchen went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday92s win over the Diamondbacks. McCutchen has now hit safely in seven-straight games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McCutchen continues to produce for owners blending in a nice mix of power and speed, making him one of the elite outfield options. On the season, McCutchen is batting .282 with 10 home runs, 34 RBI and 36 runs scored.