'I'm fine': Pirates DH Andrew McCutchen not worried after being removed as a precaution

Andrew McCutchen was swinging like he wanted to hit his 300th home run against the Milwaukee Brewers — the same team against which he hit Nos. 100 and 200 — but ended up running into trouble.

The Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter was removed from Monday’s game with tightness in his left Achilles tendon after an RBI double in the fifth inning of a 4-2 win at PNC Park.

McCutchen said felt “a little discomfort” while running between first and second base and was removed for precautionary reasons.

“I’m fine. I’m not worried about it,” McCutchen said. “I should be good.”

The injury occurred after Ke’Bryan Hayes gave the Pirates the lead with a solo home run and Bryan Reynolds doubled on the way to beating the NL Central-leading Brewers. McCutchen gave the Pirates a two-run lead but pulled up between second and third base on Connor Joe’s lineout to center, then limped off the field with assistance from trainers and didn’t return.

“I got to second, and something let me know it was there. That was it,” McCutchen said. “I just wanted to be safe and not make anything any worse. As a precaution, they wanted to take me out. I was fine. I could’ve stayed in the game. They just wanted me to be safe, to make sure that everything was fine, that everything checked out, which I did, too. Everything was fine. It was just tight.”

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said it was “encouraging” that McCutchen was “in good spirits” after being examined and treated by the team’s medical staff.

“Anytime you see one of your players, especially him, kind of pull up and limp, you have some concerns,” Shelton said. “That’s something that we’ll monitor and check on (Tuesday) morning and see where he’s at.”

McCutchen remains stuck at 299 career homers, one shy of becoming the 13th active player to reach the 300-home run plateau with 24 games remaining this season. The 36-year-old McCutchen, a five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP, already surpassed several milestones with 2,000 hits, 1,000 walks and 400 doubles in his 15-year career.

McCutchen went 2 for 3 with two doubles against the Brewers before being removed. Joshua Palacios pinch-hit for McCutchen in the eighth.

“I wanted to stay in the game,” McCutchen said. “When the hand feels good, when the hand is hot, you want to stay in there. I don’t want anything to to take me out. Father Time is undefeated, I guess.”