PITTSBURGH -- Andrew McCutchens fractured rib is healed. The reigning National League MVP is hoping his return will have the same effect on the reeling Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates activated the star centre fielder off the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday. McCutchen will bat third as Pittsburgh tries to end a season-high six-game losing streak against Atlanta. McCutchen went on the disabled list last week, retroactive to Aug. 4, with fractured rib cartilage. The Pirates went 5-9 in McCutchens absence to fall slightly off the pace in the playoff race. "Its pretty frustrating," McCutchen said. "Its like having your best friend out there during a race and you want to go out there and help him and you cant. Its kind of the same thing. Your teammates are out there grinding and were getting the short end of the stick the last few games." McCutchen was batting .307 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs at the time of the injury. He insists he isnt experiencing any lingering pain from the injury, which came after a seemingly routine sacrifice fly against Arizona on Aug. 3. He will wear extra padding for the time being as a precaution but doesnt believe he will be limited in any way. "Im going to play the way Ive been playing," he said. To make room for McCutchen on the 25-man roster, the Pirates sent utility infielder Michael Martinez to Triple-A Indianapolis. Manager Clint Hurdle hopes the return of the franchise cornerstone will stabilize a lineup thats been in flux for most of the month thanks to a string of injuries to regulars like McCutchen and second baseman Neil Walker. "I think the presence is valuable," Hurdle said. "The player is valuable but the value the presence does bring is something we would miss whenever hes not in." The injury came a day after McCutchen was drilled in the back by a 95 mph fastball Arizona reliever Randall Delgado, which happened to be one game after Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt broke his hand after getting hit by Pirates reliever Ernesto Frieri. While there was no direct correlation between getting plunked and the ensuing rib issue, McCutchen said he was "a little upset" Delgado was not disciplined. "Theres a chance that someone could get hurt with the same injury that I got because there was nothing that was handled," McCutchen said. "It wouldnt surprise me if something like that would happen again." Chris Bassitt Jersey . -- Keith Aulie has joined the Tampa Bay Lightning. Oakland Athletics Pro Shop .com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No. https://www.cheapathleticsonline.com/. -- Kyle Busch edged teammate Joey Logano at the Bristol Motor Speedway finish line Friday night to become the all-time winningest driver in Nationwide Series. Oakland Athletics Shirts .J. -- Tom Coughlin doesnt have many options at halfback for the winless New York Giants. Oakland Athletics Gear . Louis and Ryan Kesler have demanded to be traded.Liverpool and FC Basel meet in a straight shootout at Anfield Tuesday to determine which team joins Real Madrid in advancing from Group B of the Champions League.Only a win will suffice for Liverpool, whose return to Europes top competition has been a disappointment with its only points coming from matches against group minnow Ludogorets Razgrad.Basel will go through with a draw — and will be buoyed by its surprising strong record against English teams that has seen the Swiss team lose just one of its last nine matches. Basel has won four straight games against Premier League opposition, including home and away against Chelsea in last seasons group stage.In the other game, group winner Madrid hosts Bulgarian champion Ludogorets, which cannot reach the last 16 but could still finish third and gain entry to the knockout stage of the Europa League.Here are some things to know about Tuesdays games:___GERRARD RETURNSLiverpool will look to captain Steven Gerrard to rise to the big occasion again — just like he did exactly 10 years ago in one of his defining moments in the famous red shirt.In 2004, Gerrard scored a brilliant long-range goal in the final minutes to seal a 3-1 victory over Olympiakos in their final group game — securing a two-goal winning margin that put Liverpool through. The English club went on to win the Champions League that season.It is one of a number of big-game moments in the career of Gerrard, who is now age 34 and no longer plays every game under manager Brendan Rodgers.He started on the bench for Saturdays 0-0 draw against Sunderland in the Premier League, ensuring he wwill be ready for Basel.ddddddddddddWe cant always rely on him. It cant be up to him every single game to be the catalyst. Rodgers said. His talent is world class but that contribution has to come around the team.___MAKING A POINTBasel will advance to the last-16 with a repeat of its 1-1 draw at Liverpool 12 seasons ago.Then, the two teams played at Anfield earlier in the group stage, before also meeting in a decisive sixth and final match.Basel needed only a point in November 2002 to clinch second place in the group, and got it despite letting a three-goal lead slip to an eventual 3-3 draw.Basel has lost both away matches this season, and Liverpool lost four of its past six home games, stretching back to 2009.___RECORD REALReal Madrid has a little bit of history to play for when it welcomes Bulgarian minnow Ludogorets on Tuesday.The defending champions are the only team to have won all five group games, and have already wrapped up top spot.But Madrid will be aiming for a 19th consecutive victory across all competitions that will give it one more than the record for a Spanish team set by Barcelona in 2005-06.The key to keeping this up is playing consistently, said Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos. The important thing isnt the record, rather winning each individual game.Cristiano Ronaldo — unless coach Carlo Ancelotti decides to give his star forward a rare rest — will also try to add to his stunning tally of 29 goals in 21 games for Madrid this campaign.___AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva and Associated Press writer Joseph Wilson in Barcelona contributed to this report. ' ' '