Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen was held out of the starting lineup Saturday night against Milwaukee.
McCutchen was removed from Friday's contest late in the ninth inning after attempting to play through left knee soreness, an issue he has been experiencing since spring training. He said he felt something in his knee during his final at-bat, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. McCutchen did not undergo an MRI, but said that his knee is "structurally fine" and will not need a stint on the disabled list, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
McCutchen is hitting .125 (2 for 16) with a home run and two RBI through four games. He will be available to pinch-hit in case of an emergency.
"It is frustrating," McCutchen said of the recurrence. "I've always been the type of player who comes in in tip-top shape, 100 percent ready to go. And it's been a little different for me this year, battling a few things. (In Spring Training) it was more than just the knee, the lower body in general. Now (the knee) seems a little more acute."
The Pirates are underdogs (+105) in Milwaukee, per VegasInsider.com.