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.