Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen hasn’t played since March 12 due to lower body soreness. As there are only two weeks left in spring training, there has been some doubt that McCutchen would be ready for Opening Day on April 6 in Cincinnati against the Reds.
Manager Clint Hurdle put that doubt to rest on Sunday, saying that McCutchen would “absolutely” be in the Pirates’ Opening Day lineup, per Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune. Hurdle said that McCutchen would return to Grapefruit League play “sometime this week”.
McCutchen, 28, finished third in NL MVP balloting last season, batting .314/.410/.542 with 25 home runs, 83 RBI, and 18 stolen bases. He led the league in on-base percentage and OPS (.952).
