McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and RBI in Friday's 8-4 victory over the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen (heel) will return to the lineup Monday according to manager Clint Hurdle, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

Updating a previous report, McCutchen is out of the lineup due to a heel injury, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen is out of the lineup Sunday against the Athletics.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in Monday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a pair of homers and four RBI Saturday against the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen led off the scoring for the Pirates with a solo shot in the first inning, and then gave the team the lead for good with his three-run shot in the sixth inning. This was only the second time he's homered in a game since May 27, and he now has 14 homers on the season.

McCutchen's thumb has played a role in his current slump, according to Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

EDGE Analysis

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.

The Pirates could give McCutchen down time -- such as a three-game rest period -- if he doesn't snap out of his funk soon. "That could be an option down the road," manager Clint Hurdle told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review . "We've thought about a lot of different things, and we're trying them one at a time."

EDGE Analysis

The center fielder sat out Thursday's game, with David Freese serving as a ninth-inning pinch-hitter over McCutchen. "Freese has a much better on-base percentage (.370) right now (than McCutchen's .315)," Hurdle said. "Against right-handed pitching, there's a lot of numbers working to Freese's advantage." McCutchen is slashing .187/.247/.253 in 81 June plate appearances. His strikeout rate of 25 percent represents a career-worst mark.

McCutchen is out of the lineup Thursday against the Giants, the Pittsburgh Tribune's Rob Biertempfel reports.

EDGE Analysis

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.

McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a double and a homer in a 6-4 loss to the Mets on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

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.