First number, last word

By Tom Singer

August 29, 2013

.443: Highest August average ever for a Pirates player, by Pie Traynor in 1930. With three games remainining in the month, Andrew McCutchen entered Thursday's game batting .425 (37-for-87) in August.

"Sure, it can be a grind. But it would be tough to call what's going on around here right now a grind. We've put ourselves in a good position, and are having a lot of fun." -- Locke, on the suggestion that the long-season grind can wear down a pitcher and push him toward the break he now is taking.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer.