Andrew McCutchen (knee) returned to the Pirates' lineup Friday. McCutchen left Thursday's game against the Mets with left knee, but he's going to try to tough it out. The 25-year-old entered Friday's action just behind Buster Posey (.333 to .332) for the NL batting average lead.

Andrew McCutchen left Thursday's game against the Mets with left knee pain. McCutchen hurt the knee while trying to make a diving catch in the seventh inning. The severity of the injury isn't yet clear. He went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts before exiting and currently ranks first in the National League (if you don't count Melky Cabrera) with a .332 batting average.

Andrew McCutchen hit his 30th homer Thursday in the loss to the Brewers. It was a three-run shot off Michael Fiers. After a down August, it looked like McCutchen might fall short of 30 homers in his breakthrough season. However, he has six in 18 games so far this month.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and a pair of walks Saturday against the Cubs. McCutchen has four homers in his last six games after going without one in 20 straight. The 25-year-old center fielder has already established a new career-high with 28 home runs and is just two shy of his career-high of 89 RBI from last year. With his batting average sitting at .341, he's still very much alive in the MVP chase.

Andrew McCutchen singled and ripped his 26th homer in Monday's loss to the Reds. McCutchen got the Pirates' scoring started with a solo blast in the fourth, but the three runs they scored that inning turned out to be the only ones they could manage in 14 innings. The 25-year-old has gone deep in two straight contests.

Andrew McCutchen had four hits and drove in three runs Tuesday night in Pittsburgh, leading the Pirates to a much-needed 6-0 victory over the Astros. "Cutch" got the Buccos on the board with an RBI double in the first inning, then added a pair of RBI singles in the third and fifth frames. After a disappointing month of August where he hit just .252 with two homers and 13 RBI, he's beginning to show serious signs of life. The Pirates will need his bat to stay hot down the home stretch if they're going to clinch their first postseason berth since 1992.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's loss to the Brewers. While he has cooled off considerably over the past few weeks, McCutchen is still having an unbelievable season. Including Saturday night's results, he is batting .346/.410/.567 with 24 home runs, 80 RBI and 16 stolen bases.

Andrew McCutchen is not in Friday's lineup against the Brewers. He's just getting the day off. McCutchen is batting .252 with two homers and 27 strikeouts in 107 at-bats this month, so he could probably use the breather. Alex Presley will start in his place in center field Friday.

Andrew McCutchen rolled his ankle during Monday's game against the Cardinals, but said he'll be OK. McCutchen didn't leave the game, but was clearly favoring the ankle. However, he has no plans on sitting with the Pirates trying to hang around in the playoff race.

Andrew McCutchen went 0-for-5 in the Pirates' loss to the Cardinals on Saturday in St. Louis. McCutchen plated a run with a fielder's choice groundout in the ninth inning but was otherwise silent, fanning two times with no walks. He's 1-for-7 so far in the Bucs' meaningful weekend series with the Cardinals.