[Bcatswin]

How bad will this hurt the Pirates? Can they survive?

[TwoWays]

big time. losing an all-star that bats in the middle of your lineup, that hurts big time.

[Bcatswin]

Andrew McCutchen will have more time to stew about being thrown at over the weekend.
The Pirates' MVP center fielder could miss up to a month because of an oblique strain, The (Pittsburgh) Post-Gazette reported Monday. McCutchen was hurt on a swing Sunday in Arizona, one day after the Diamondbacks' Randall Delgado drilled him in the back with a fastball.
Andrew McCutchen (AP Photo)
MORE: Time for Bucs to panic after quiet deadline?
It's difficult to say if the injury and the HBP are directly related, although many fans will try to put 2 and 2 together. What matters more now is that McCutchen will be out for an extended period as the Pirates contend for a second consecutive playoff berth. The Bucs began Monday just a half-game behind the Cardinals for the second NL wild-card spot, and just 1 1/2 games behind the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.

Andrew McCutchen (AP Photo/Image hosted by imgur.com)
One bit of encouraging news: Pittsburgh's outfield defense shouldn't crumble, because left fielder Starling Marte is close to coming off the DL and can slide over to center. Marte has played 25 games at the position in his big-league career, and he was primarily a center fielder in the minor leagues.
Marte, though, is not close to the offensive threat McCutchen is. Few hitters are. McCutchen is batting .311 and has a .947 OPS. He leads the team with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs. McCutchen also has 17 stolen bases, second to Marte's 21.
MORE: Explaining common baseball injuries
Another thing to consider: Will the Bucs try to acquire an outfield bat, such as the Phillies' Marlon Byrd, in a waiver trade? Byrd might be too expensive, both in terms of players and contract. Byrd has an $8 million option for 2015 that he reportedly wants picked up if he's traded, plus an $8 million vesting option for 2016.

[Bcatswin]

Pirates are cautiously optimistic that they won't have to DL Andrew McCutchen; we'll see how he progresses in the days ahead.

[Chi_archie]

When it comes to injuries to good players the Pirates have been very fortunate.

the same is not true for their central foes: Reds, Cards, Brewers

this will be a tough test, but hey they shouldn't miss a beat because they picked up Jayson Nix and put him in the starting lineup

[Chi_archie]

gonna hold off on DL for a bit

[Bcatswin]

Yep and agree with your thoughts.

[OptimistPrime]

Tough luck for Pit, seems like everyone in the NL central is banged up.

[Bcatswin]

Tough luck for Pit, seems like everyone in the NL central is banged up.

[laclippers504]

I personally think they are done. The bull pen has been horrendous and A even when in the lineup McCutchen had been cold. Will see though

[Chi_archie]

Cutch finally on the DL officially