Pirates lose designated hitter, leadoff batter Andrew McCutchen to 10-day IL

Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen is headed to the 10-day injured list with left knee inflammation, the club announced Saturday ahead of an afternoon game at PNC Park with the Seattle Mariners.

In a corresponding transaction, infielder Alika Williams was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.

McCutchen has appeared in 101 games for the Pirates this season, slashing .235/.336/.405 as the club’s primary leadoff batter.

McCutchen’s placement on the injured list comes as he was enjoying an 11-game hitting streak dating to July 28.

Through eight games and 30 at-bats in August, McCutchen had been hitting .367 with 10 RBIs.

On the year, his 16 home runs and 40 RBIs rank third on the team. He leads the Pirates in walks (51) and is second in on-base percentage.

During Friday’s win over Mariners, which snapped a season-worst 10-game losing streak, McCutchen was removed in the seventh inning with discomfort in his left knee.

He went 1 for 3 with an RBI in the victory.

On the Pirates’ recent West Coast road trip, McCutchen battled through a left quad injury that kept him from starting several games.

In the Pirates’ series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, in which they were swept, McCutchen described his health level as being at “70%.”

That did not stop him from blasting a pair of homers Aug. 11 against the Dodgers in an eventual 6-5 loss, a performance that earned him strong praise from manager Derek Shelton.

In 2023, McCutchen’s season with the Pirates was cut short after 112 games because of a partial Achilles tear in early September.

Note: In more injury news, left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation) is set to begin a rehab assignment with the Indians on Saturday night.