{"id":83350,"date":"2024-08-17T14:17:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T18:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=83350"},"modified":"2024-08-17T14:17:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-17T18:17:57","slug":"pirates-mccutchen-injured-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/08\/17\/pirates-mccutchen-injured-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Place Franchise Icon On Injured List"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that designated hitter Andrew McCutchen<\/a> has been placed on the injured list. He left Friday\u2019s game against the Seattle Mariners at PNC Park in the seventh inning after hitting a single to left field and struggling to reach first base. McCutchen took himself out of the game without even waiting for the trainer. The diagnosis is left knee inflammation. The Pirates called up shortstop Alika Williams<\/a> from Triple-A Indianapolis to take McCutchen\u2019s spot on the active roster.<\/p>\n

Pirates Place Franchise Icon McCutchen On Injured List<\/h2>\n

The offensively challenged Pirates could ill afford to lose one of their better hitters at a time when their postseason hopes are on life support. McCutchen\u2019s return to Pittsburgh in 2023 has been one of the more interesting subplots of the last two years. Neal Huntington, the general manager at the time, traded \u201cCutch\u201d after the 2018 season. The belief was that he was a player in decline. Since returning<\/a>, McCutchen has been one of the Pirates\u2019 better hitters. This season, he\u2019s hitting .235\/.336\/.405, 16 HR, 40 RBI, and 108 OPS+. He began to thrive since being moved to the leadoff permanently in May. He has an excellent .343 OBP as a leadoff hitter in 2024.<\/p>\n

McCutchen had been grinding it out the last few games, noticeably limping on the bases. A Pirates team that\u2019s looked down in the mouth during a 10-game losing streak snapped on Friday will miss McCutchen\u2019s leadership by example.<\/p>\n

The Pirates entered Saturday\u2019s action at 57-64, in last place in the National League Central Division. They\u2019re 12 \u00bd games out of first place and 6 \u00bd games out of the Wild Card. A postseason berth remains mathematically possible but unlikely, given the number of teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race. Oddsmakers now give them a 1.2 percent chance to make the postseason. Thus, fans and media have begun to think about 2025. Given his performance in 2024, McCutchen should be back with the Pirates next year. However, with McCutchen\u2019s health issues, the Pirates will want him to pass a physical before re-signing him, as they did this season.<\/p>\n

Up Comes Williams<\/h3>\n

Oneil Cruz<\/a> also pulled up lame on the bases in Friday\u2019s unlucky seventh inning. Thus, the Pirates called up Williams to have some shortstop depth while Cruz remains day-to-day. Cruz was in Saturday\u2019s lineup as the designated hitter, with newly acquired<\/a> Isiah Kiner-Falefa<\/a> assuming Cruz\u2019s place in the field and McCutchen\u2019s leadoff spot in the order.<\/p>\n