Worth noting

By Tom Singer

October 7, 2013

• Entering Monday's game, Andrew McCutchen was batting .538 (7-for-13) through his first four career postseason games, with an on-base percentage of .667 (12-for-18).

• A recurring regular-season theme was how tight the Pirates were staying to the Cardinals in the National League Central race despite the disparity in the teams' average with runners in scoring position (St. Louis' .330 to Pittsburgh's .229).

Those numbers turned around in the first three NLDS games: The Pirates were 6-for-18 (.333) and the Cardinals 3-for-20 (.150).

• The Shark Tank, apparently, is not the only nickname for the Pirates' bullpen.

"Some of the guys down there have been calling it 'The Bullpen of Failed Starters,'" said Hurdle.

Mark Melancon is the only one of the seven relievers who was not a starting pitcher at the outset of his career.

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.