Andrew McCutchen has been absurdly clutch for the Phillies lately.
If this is Andrew McCutchen’s final season in red pinstripes, he’s making the most of it.
The beloved Phillies outfielder is having an absolutely outrageous June and July. He kicked off June by having a two-homer game on June 1 against the Cincinnati Reds. Since the start of June, he’s now hitting .307/.427/.614 with six home runs and 25 RBI.
In the series opener on Monday night, he went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored, and an RBI. Coming into Tuesday night, he’d only struck out twice in four games so far this month.
Then, in the first inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Cubs at Wrigley, former Phillies pitcher Jake Arietta loaded the bases with Phillies before McCutchen came up as the fourth batter. With the bases juiced, Cutch hit one out of the park.
Phillies bringing the power EARLY! 💥
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 7, 2021
McCutchen with a Grand Slam in the 1st❗️
(via @Phillies) pic.twitter.com/gXg8nPQK9G
It was the sixth slam Arrieta has allowed in his career. In a strange twist of fate, he once allowed one to his now-manager David Ross, almost exactly ten years ago, on July 2, 2011.
But back to Cutch, who has been doing the absolute most for his team lately. The four-time Silver Slugger has the second-most RBI and stolen bases on his team. With his grand slam on Tuesday night, he’s tied with Bryce Harper for second-most home runs on the team, 14 each, and McCutchen now leads the roster in runs scored.
Cutch’s improvement month-to-month is notable, as well:
April (22 games): .169/.301/.247, .548 OPS, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 15 BB, 24 K
May (27 games): .227/.333/.454, .787 OPS, 4 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 13 RBI, 16 BB, 33 K
June (24 games): .301/.424/.603, 1.027 OPS, 4 2B, 0 3B, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 15 BB, 12 K
And then there’s the franchise history angle to his grand slam:
Andrew McCutchen is the 5th @Phillies player to hit a grand slam as their 4th batter of the game. Others:
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) July 7, 2021
Ryan Howard (2012 vs. Mets)
Bobby Abreu (2005 vs. Cubs)
Greg Luzinski (1977 vs. Braves)
Dick Allen (1965 vs. Giants)
Last time the #Phillies played a game where the first 3 hitters in the top of the first singles and the 4th hit a slam:
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 7, 2021
June 11, 1977 at Atlanta
Bowa single
Hebner walk
Schmidt walk
Greg Luzinski slam
This isn’t even McCutchen’s first grand slam of the season. He hit one on June 23, his first since 2017. It was also the first pinch-hit slam of his career and the first pinch-hit slam by a Phillie since Ty Kelly in 2017.
The way Cutch has been playing lately, the Phillies have to be considering dealing him before the deadline. In addition to having a scorching-hot summer, he’s one of the most popular players in the league and would elevate any team, on and off the field. But that’s a conversation for the coming weeks. For now, enjoy Cutch’s clutchness.