Andrew McCutchen
The Pittsburgh Pirates still go as Andrew McCutchen goes. That is what gives Cutch the nod here over Josh Harrison. While Harrison has been a consistent producer since the start of the season, it is not a coincidence that as McCutchen has played his best baseball since 2015 the past month the Pirates have also played their best baseball of the season.
So far this season Andrew McCutchen owns a .282/.372/.495/.867 slash line. He owns a 12.1 percent walk rate, 16.9 percent strikeout rate, and is second on the team with 14 home runs. His .369 wOBA and 130 wRC+ both lead the team, while his 1.8 fWAR is second only to Harrison.
It has been a tale of two seasons for McCutchen. After play on May 24th McCutchen owned a .274 on-base percentage, 18.4 percent strikeout rate, a .275 wOBA, and a wRC+ of 69. In 141 plate appearances since then he owns a 16.3 percent walk rate, 14.9 percent strikeout rate, .495 wOBA, 213 wRC+, and a 2.0 fWAR.
Andrew McCutchen could easily win National League Player of the Month for June. It’s not a coincidence that the month of June is the lone month this season when the Pirates played .500 ball going 13-13.
If the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to make a run at a wide open National League Central it will be on the back of the baddest dude in the league. The team still goes as Andrew McCutchen goes. Right now, he is going as good as anyone in all of baseball and he is the team’s MVP through their first 81 games.
Honorable mention: Josh Harrison, Josh Bell