First number, last word

.017: The National League's collective batting average off Cole's offspeed pitches in his last six starts entering Wednesday night's Game 5; it reflects a 1-for-58.

"The longer you go without a hit, the better the chances are you'll get one. So mathematically, these guys are due." -- Hurdle, on the top two men in his lineup, Starling Marte and Neil Walker, who took a combined 1-for-31 into Game 5