The Pirates activated McCutchen from the 10-day injured list Sunday.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen (elbow) said he expects to be activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Pittsburgh placed McCutchen on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to July 6, with right elbow discomfort.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen is not in Thursday's lineup against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday versus the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen 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.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two stolen bases Friday against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen (elbow) is batting second Thursday against Miami as the Pirates' designated hitter.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen 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.

EDGE Analysis

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.