Andrew McCutchen says the left knee injury that limited him during spring training is "not a factor at all" in his slow start to the season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder says people who believe his knee is the reason for his struggles are "overanalyzing" him.

"They're overanalyzing, is what it is," McCutchen said, "because honestly, I take that as: It makes me feel good, because they're searching for something, going, 'Well, there has to be a reason why he's doing what he's doing. He must be injured.' It makes me feel good, because [they're saying], 'If he didn't have an injury he'd be killing it.'

"So for me, I get it. I feel good about that. But at the same time, it's not that. It's not my knee. It's not any of that."

Scouts and opponents have been saying for weeks, as they watched McCutchen struggle, that his knee was bothering more than he's been letting on.

"Physically, I feel great," he said. "I mean, I was running and jumping off the wall two days ago. If I need to go steal a base, I can steal a base. If I need to go make a diving play, I'll make a diving play. My knee's not a factor at all. And I think the more I go out there and keep playing, the more I keep hitting, the more I keep doing what I do, I guess they'll say, 'Oh, I guess he's feeling better.'"

McCutchen, who was the NL MVP in 2013, is hitting .229/.314/.373.