The Pittsburgh Pirates are in the thick of the National League wild-card race, but they received some unfortunate news Tuesday evening. The team’s official Twitter page filled fans in on the details regarding the health of superstar Andrew McCutchen:
McCutchen was 0-for-3 when he left Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals. His importance in the Pittsburgh lineup cannot be overstated, though.
On the year, he is hitting .307 with 20 home runs, 70 RBI, 69 walks and 17 stolen bases. He also boasts a .942 on-base plus slugging percentage and is a crucial piece of the team’s defense from center field.
The defending National League MVP has helped lead the Pirates into playoff contention for the second consecutive year. They are 1.5 games out of the second wild-card spot, and this series with the Cardinals (who lead all wild-card contenders) is particularly important.
Losing McCutchen for an extended amount of time would cripple Pittsburgh’s postseason hopes. Stay tuned for updates as they develop.
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