McCutchen (hamstring) will serve as the Pirates' designated hitter and leadoff batter in Sunday's game against the White Sox.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen will return to the lineup after he was removed in the ninth inning of Saturday's 6-2 win with what the Pirates labeled as left hamstring discomfort. Even though the Pirates could have kept McCutchen out of the lineup in their final game before the All-Star break to give the veteran some extended time to rest up, he'll be ready to go Sunday, which suggests his removal from Saturday's contest was precautionary.

McCutchen was removed from Saturday's game against the White Sox due to left hamstring discomfort.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen had gone 2-for-4 with a run scored before his hamstring forced him out of Saturday's game in the ninth inning. The Pirates have officially labeled him as day-to-day, and he may sit out Sunday's game in order to get some extra rest heading into the All-Star break.

McCutchen isn't in the Pirates' lineup for Tuesday's game versus Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

After going 1-for-10 with five strikeouts during Pittsburgh's last series against the Mets, McCutchen will get a breather for Tuesday's series opener. His absence will move Bryan Reynolds into the DH spot while Jack Suwinski, Michael Taylor and Joshua Palacios start across the outfield.

McCutchen is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen will get his first day off since June 13, handing DH duties over to Bryan Reynolds while Joshua Palacios leads off. McCutchen is 2-for-19 with eight strikeouts over his last five games. However, both hits went for extra bases.

McCutchen went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Tuesday against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen has cooled considerably since mid-June, as he's hitting only .154 across his last 11 games. However, he managed his 12th homer of the season and second in his last five starts Tuesday, continuing a surprising resurgence of power. His ISO is currently .169, McCutchen's highest mark since the 2021 season.

McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

His fifth-inning shot off Graham Ashcraft gave the 37-year-old designated hitter his third homer in the last 12 games, and his 11th of the campaign. McCutchen only slugged 12 home runs in 112 games last year and hasn't reached 20 long balls in a season since 2021, but it appears he still has some pop left in the tank. On the season, he's slashing .238/.338/.405 over 67 contests with 24 RBI and 42 runs.

McCutchen indicated earlier this week that he plans to continue his playing career after this season, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

"In my mind, this isn't my last year," McCutchen said. McCutchen will turn 38 in October and is basically a full-time designated hitter at this point. He's been productive this season, however, particularly since being moved into the Pirates' leadoff spot, where he's slashed .273/.359/.459 with nine homers in 195 plate appearances. Mackey writes that he was told by owner Bob Nutting last season that McCutchen "will remain a Pirate for as long as he wants," so it would seem the team would be amendable to a new deal after this season.

McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Friday's 5-2 win over Colorado.

EDGE Analysis

McCutchen crushed a mammoth 448-foot solo homer of Ryan Feltner in the sixth inning to give the Pirates a lead they never relinquished. The 37-year-old veteran later tallied another run to his register when a Bryan Reynolds single drove him home in the eighth. McCutchen has been a steady producer over the last 30 days, hitting .297 (28-for-94) with five homers, 19 runs scored and 12 RBI in 22 games.

McCutchen isn't in the lineup for Thursday's contest in St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates are giving Bryan Reynolds a start in the designated-hitter slot while Jack Suwinski plays left field and Michael Taylor handles center field. McCutchen has struggled in his career against the Cardinals' starting pitcher for Thursday's game, Lance Lynn, going 13-for-57 with a 21:1 K:BB.

McCutchen is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Twins.

EDGE Analysis

It's the first day off in three weeks for McCutchen. The 37-year-old will yield designated hitter duties Friday to Henry Davis.