McCutchen went 3-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the Cardinals. McCutchen is heating up as he has a home run in three of his last four games. The Pirates will need him to continue to lead their offense as they make a run towards the playoffs.

McCutchen, who hit his 19th homer Sunday, says he's playing at less than full strength following a rib fracture. "It's good enough to play. It's good enough to swing," McCutchen told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "That's probably how it's going to be the rest of the season. It's going to be good enough." McCutchen's injury situation throws up a red flag for fantasy owners, but the center fielder hit two home runs over the weekend at less than 100 percent. At this point in the pennant race, McCutchen will likely play through pain he might decide to sit out in April or May. His status will go a long way toward determining Pittsburgh's postseason hopes.

McCutchen has six hits in 11 career at-bats against Sunday starter, Mike Fiers, including four home runs and nine RBI. He's 3-for-9 with a dinger in his last two games after going hitless in first eight at-bats off the DL. Make sure McCutchen is in your starting lineup Sunday.

McCutchen crushed his 18th homer of the season Friday, going 2-for-5 with his first homer since belting a pair in Cincinnati on July 12. McCutchen's 438-foot blast to right-center field stuck in the wheel well of a promotional Toyota, giving fantasy owners plenty of reason to ride out the season with Cutch. He's now hit 13 career homers in Miller Park, more than in any other road venue.

McCutchen is hitless in eight at-bats since returning from the DL, an indication that his timing isn't quite right yet. He saw a team-leading 21 pitches in four at-bats Wednesday but expanded the strike zone in hitter's count to help get himself out. A 96 mph fastball from David Carpenter nearly plunked McCutchen in the ninth inning, but the NL MVP was able twist out of the way without re-injuring himself -- a good sign going forward. McCutchen has 12 homers and a career .936 OPS at Miller Park where Pittsburgh plays its next three games, giving him a chance to get back on track. Since the All-Star break, the center fielder is batting .200/.321/.262 in 78 plate appearances.

McCutchen went 0-for-4 for the second straight day Wednesday following his activation from the disabled list Tuesday. There are some questions as to whether McCutchen will actually get back to 100 percent down the stretch, but it's very difficult to sit a player of his caliber even if there are lingering concerns about his health.

McCutchen (ribs) has been activated from the DL and is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Braves, the Pittsburgh Tribune reports. McCutchen, who has not played since August 3 due to a broken rib, will bat third and man his usual center field position. The reigning NL MVP took batting practice Monday and will look to pick up where he left off, as he hit the DL in the midst of an impressive four-game span during which he went 6-for-13 at the plate with two doubles, three walks and four RBI. On the season, McCutchen is hitting .311 with 17 home runs 67 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

Manager Clint Hurdle said that although the Pirates haven't made an official decision yet, he's optimistic McCutchen (broken rib) will return from the DL on Tuesday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. Tuesday marks the first day McCutchen would be eligible to return from the DL, and with the outfielder believed to be progressing swiftly from the broken rib, the Pirates will likely waste no time to get him back in their lineup. He participated in batting practice Monday and will likely have to complete his gamut of pregame activities with no concerns prior to Tuesday's game before the Pirates make an official decision on his status.

McCutchen (ribs), who has taken batting practice and run the bases in recent days, is eligible to return from the DL as soon as Tuesday. He hasn't encountered any setbacks as he works his way back from an avulsion fracture of his 11th rib. As a result, it looks like fantasy owners in weekly leagues will want to activate the reigning NL MVP, even if he misses the first two or three games of Week 21.

McCutchen (ribs) was able to run the bases and even took batting practice Saturday, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. McCutchen is currently on the 15-day disabled list but is eligible to return on Aug. 19. Being that he still has a couple more days to test out the ribs, the Pirates' star returning on the 19th seems like a real possibility.