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Cutch thriving in CF, No. 2 hole in Bucs lineup
- Updated: May 19, 2016
PITTSBURGH — Forty games into the season, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle likes what he’s seen from Andrew McCutchen as a No. 2 hitter. He’s been even more impressed by McCutchen’s defense.
“I don’t think he has ever played a better defensive center field since he’s been here,” Hurdle said, “which is really encouraging, because he’s playing both sides of the ball. It’s not letting one leak into the other.”
McCutchen is hitting .248/.337/.471 with eight home runs and a 116 OPS+ entering Thursday night’s game against the Braves — solid numbers for most, but not matching his MVP-caliber track record. Even after a slow start last season, McCutchen hit .292/.401/.488 with 23 homers and 96 RBIs.
One glaring issue: McCutchen is swinging and missing at a 13.5 percent rate, well above his career average of 8.8 percent. McCutchen struggled last April, due in part to a left knee injury, but he hit .312/.424/.525 after May 6.
“I think it goes back to hitters working on their swing and timing,” Hurdle said. “We haven’t seen an extended hot period yet. We will.”
That streak likely will take place with …
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