Andrew McCutchen Pulled From Saturday's Game With Hamstring Discomfort
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen was pulled early from Saturday's game with hamstring discomfort. The team announced the injury shortly after the Pirates' 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. McCutchen is currently being evaluated and should be considered day-to-day. The 37-year-old was having a solid day at the plate, going 2-4 and tallying a run before Joey Bart pinch-hit for him in the top of the ninth. Given that the All-Star break will start on Monday, fantasy managers should prepare for McCutchen to sit out tomorrow's game to give him extra rest. The injury doesn't appear to be serious at the moment but fantasy managers should monitor McCutchen's status going forward. Expect Bryan Reynolds to slide into the DH role while Michael Taylor will likely start in the outfield on Sunday against scheduled White Sox starter Chad Kuhl.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is getting a day off on Tuesday as the team faces the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers on the road. With McCutchen sitting, Bryan Reynolds will get a day off his feet and serve as the DH while batting second against Brewers right-hander Colin Rea. Starting in Pittsburgh's outfield from left field to right are Jack Suwinski, Michael Taylor and Joshua Palacios. The 37-year-old McCutchen has struggled at the plate so far in six games in July, going 3-for-22 (.136) with a homer, double, RBI and nine strikeouts in 27 plate appearances. The cold stretch has dropped his season slash line to .225/.328/.386 with a .714 OPS. McCutchen has been a decent source of power (12 homers) and runs (46) for fantasy managers in deep-mixed leagues.
Andrew McCutchen Doesn't Plan To Retire After 2024 Season
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen plans on playing beyond the 2024 season. "In my mind, this isn't my last year," McCutchen said. "As long as my body holds up and I'm not embarrassing myself out there, I wanna keep going." It was uncertain if he'd even return to Pittsburgh after last season when the 37-year-old veteran had season-ending surgery on his Achilles. But McCutchen has been healthy this year and has bounced back, as he currently leads the team in home runs with 10. His chase rate (97th percentile) remains elite, and he's also in the 78th percentile in walk rate. His expected slugging percentage is in the 90th percentile. Since moving to the leadoff spot in April, McCutchen has a .279 average in 41 games, with only former batting champion Luis Arraez (.340) being better in the National League. He ranks fourth in baseball among leadoff men with an .837 OPS.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and infielder Jared Triolo are both out of the lineup on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a home run in Wednesday's loss to the Milwaukee Brewers and has been better in May so far, batting .250 (11-for-44) with two home runs and three RBI to raise his season line to .211/.317/.358 in 142 plate appearances. With McCutchen out, Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter and bat second, while Edward Olivares will serve as the cleanup hitter while starting in right field against Cubs left-hander Justin Steele. Triolo has just two hits in his last 39 plate appearances and could start losing more playing time if he doesn't pick things up offensively soon. Nick Gonzales is starting at third base and is batting fifth, while Alika Williams draws into the lineup at the keystone and will hit ninth.
Andrew McCutchen, Michael Taylor Not Playing Wednesday
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Michael Taylor are not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the Oakland Athletics. With both players out, Bryan Reynolds will serve as the designated hitter and bat second, while Jack Suwinski will cover center field and hit eighth against A's right-hander Ross Stripling. Connor Joe is manning left field and batting third in the order. The veteran McCutchen has gotten off to a slow start in 2024, hitting just .190 (15-for-79) with three home runs, seven RBI and one steal. Taylor has been a bit better with a .253 average (19-for-75), but he has yet to go deep with six RBI and three stolen bases. Reynolds is a daily must-start in season-long fantasy leagues, while Joe is a nice low-cost DFS play with an average just under .300 in his first 89 at-bats in 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.
Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen will be on the bench Saturday as the Pirates continue a four-game set against the Phillies. The 37-year-old has a tough start to the season as he holds a .161/.316/.226 line with no home runs and only two RBI. Edward Olivares will instead be in the designated hitter spot and bat in the five-hole as he takes on Spencer Turnbull. Olivares has been swinging a hot bat over the first two weeks, hitting for a .314 AVG and .600 SLG with seven RBI and three home runs. Olivares is worth consideration in DFS, but he does have a difficult matchup with Spencer Turnbull, who has yet to allow an earned run and has a minuscule 0.55 WHIP.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is taking the day off on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. With McCutchen getting a breather, outfielder Connor Joe will serve as the team's DH on Thursday and bat fifth, with Jack Suwinski getting the start in left field and hitting cleanup against Nationals right-hander Josiah Gray. Suwinski is hitting .333 in his career in just six at-bats against Gray with a solo home runs, so he could be a sneaky low-cost DFS play as he draws into Pittsburgh's lineup. Joe is hitless in his six career at-bats versus Gray. The 37-year-old McCutchen is off to a slow start this year after a nice bounce-back performance in 2023 in his return to the Bucs. He's currently 3-for-16 (.188) with two RBI and nine strikeouts in 21 plate appearances over his first four games.
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder/designated hitter Andrew McCutchen (Achilles) said that he is making his Grapefruit League debut on Tuesday. "Got a uniform in here. Might as well wear it," McCutchen said. The 37-year-old said his modified, back-field program this spring has kept his health/body in a great spot entering the 2024 season. McCutchen suffered a partial tear of his left Achilles in 2023, which is why he's being slow-played in camp by the Pirates. The former National League MVP in 2013 is clearly past his prime, but he was decent before his injury in his return to Pittsburgh last year, slashing .256/.378/.397 with 12 home runs, 43 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 112 games. McCutchen's lack of outfield eligibility in fantasy is bad news for his overall fantasy appeal, though.
Andrew McCutchen Could See Game Action In Coming Week
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (Achilles) could see Grapefruit League action the week of March 4. The 37-year-old signed a one-year, $5 million deal this off-season to return to the Pirates after slashing .256/.378/.397 with 12 home runs, 55 runs scored, 43 RBI, and 11 stolen bases in 473 plate appearances. He was forced to miss the last month of the season due to a partial tear of his left Achilles. At this point in his career, while recovering from a leg injury, it is difficult to expect much from McCutchen fantasy-wise, particularly in terms of stolen base potential.
