McCutchen was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and a two-run home run in a losing cause against the Indians on Friday night. For most players, a .296 average with 10 home runs and 49 RBI at this point in the season would be considered very productive. For McCutchen, that's a bit disappointing, however, he does appear to be heating up so a big second-half is a very real possibility.

McCutchen went 2-for-5 with an RBI Tuesday. He also reached base three times via walks. Perhaps most interestingly, he stole his second base in four games, giving him five for the season. He's feeling good and that typically means good news for fantasy owners. McCutchen followed up a .337 May batting average with a .330 mark in June, though he hit just two homers in 109 plate appearances.

McCutchen (elbow) will be in Sunday's lineup, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. The Pirates are yet to release a lineup, but manager Clint Hurdle confirmed that McCutchen will play Sunday. The center fielder departed Saturday's game after being hit in the elbow by a pitch, but X-rays returned negative, so he shouldn't be hampered in the long-term.

McCutchen exited Saturday's game in the first inning after being hit in the left elbow by a pitch, but X-rays came back negative and he will be re-evaluated Sunday. McCutchen left the contest immediately after getting hit, but thankfully the injury appears to be more minor than major. It's unclear how much time he'll miss because of the issue, but consider him day-to-day at this point.

McCutchen left Saturday's game in the first inning after getting hit by a pitch. McCutchen appeared to be hit in either the elbow or back in his first at-bat Saturday, and he was forced out of the contest as a result. The hit-by-pitch was his second in as many days, and Jung-Ho Kang replaced him on the basepaths. The team will likely update his status and the nature of his injury at some point in the near future, but consider him day-to-day unless something indicates otherwise.

McCutchen hit his ninth homer -- and just his second in 26 games -- Tuesday against the Reds. He's hit .340 (33-for-97) since May 25, but the lack of power was surprising. McCutchen hasn't hit Wednesday starter Mike Leake very well. Over a decent sample size, Cutch is batting .246 with two homers and six RBI in 61 at-bats.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with an RBI single Wednesday against the White Sox. In his 943rd career game, McCutchen served as his team's designated hitter for the first time ever. His break from the outfield may be short-lived, however, as Wednesday's center fielder Starling Marte appeared to injure his left ankle late in the game against Chicago.

McCutchen (knee) went 1-for-4 with a double in his return to the lineup Tuesday. He flew out to the center field wall in the eighth inning, narrowly missing a game-tying two-run dinger. McCutchen still continues to battle a left knee injury, but he'll get a chance to rest it for the second time in four days with Thursday's off day.

McCutchen is back in the lineup Tuesday against the Brewers, Tom Singer of MLB.com reports. McCutchen was given a maintenance day Monday, but he's back in the lineup Tuesday, manning center field and batting third against Brewers starter Taylor Jungmann.

McCutchen is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Padres, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports. McCutchen is hitting a robust .422 since May 20, but he has appeared a little banged up of late, so manager Clint Hurdle felt it was a good time to give his center fielder his first day off since May 14. Starling Marte will slide over and cover center field for the Pirates on Monday night.