McCutchen wants to cut down on strikeouts

ARLINGTON — Though he has begun to thaw out after a slow start to the season, posting a batting average that is 64 points higher in May than in April over the same number of at-bats entering Saturday’s game, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen believes his swing is not where it needs to be yet.

He homered and singled in a run in Friday night’s 9-1 win over the Rangers, but McCutchen was just as focused Saturday on the three times he struck out in the series opener. McCutchen entered play Saturday having struck out 49 times in 210 plate appearances this year, a strikeout rate of 23.3 percent, almost six points higher than his career rate.

“I definitely shouldn’t be striking out as much as I’ve been striking out,” McCutchen said. “I’m a guy that has a good feel for the zone, and when I get good pitches to hit, normally I hit them. But more times than not lately, I’ve been getting them and I’ve been missing them. I’m getting to two strikes more and having to battle. When I’m on and I’m feeling good, I get a pitch to hit, I hit it.”

The longtime No. 3 hitter moved up to the second spot in the Pittsburgh order this year and has seen a higher percentage of strikes this season, perhaps because pitchers are less inclined to pitch around him.

“When you’ve got people behind you that …

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