Andrew McCutchen, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ seasoned outfielder and former MVP, was playing well before being sidelined with an injury. After a brief return to the lineup last week, McCutchen revealed that he had been playing through a left knee injury, which was only 70 percent healed. Unfortunately, this injury has now forced him onto the 10-day injured list, as announced by the team on X.
The Pirates have struggled significantly since the All-Star break, holding the second-worst record in baseball during this stretch, only ahead of the Chicago White Sox. They managed to break a 10-game losing streak on Friday, thanks to a strong performance by NL Rookie of the Year contender Paul Skenes.
However, the victory was marred by McCutchen’s departure from the game after he aggravated his knee while running the bases in the seventh inning. ESPN reports that the injury is due to inflammation in his left knee, leading to his placement on the IL.
At 37, McCutchen has been a crucial leader for the Pirates, both on and off the field. Despite the team’s disappointing season, which sees them seven games below .500 and 12.5 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers, McCutchen has continued to contribute. The Pirates are currently 6.5 games out of the National League Wild Card race, with several teams ahead of them.
McCutchen has been in impressive form recently, boasting an 11-game hitting streak and a slash line of .367/.459/.700 in August, according to Kevin Gorman of Tribune-Review Sports. Over the season, McCutchen has accumulated 16 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 59 runs scored, with a .741 OPS and an OPS+ of 108. His performance has earned him a 1.0 WAR in 101 games this year.
Following a successful 2023 season, McCutchen signed a one-year, $5 million contract to remain with the Pirates in 2024. He also reached a significant career milestone this year, hitting his 300th home run, bringing his career totals to 315 homers and 219 stolen bases.
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