Gerrit Cole is going for his third consecutive victory tonight. In his past five starts, he has a 2.64 ERA. In one start against the Rockies this season, Cole allowed four runs — two earned — and eight hits in six innings at Coors Field.

“It’s good stuff,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. ”It’s sharp, it’s late, he commands it. Big-time arm. You’ve just gotta compete in the box against guys like that.”

Some hitting streaks:

— Josh Harrison (five games, 6-18)
— Jordy Mercer (five games, 8-18)
— Gregory Polanco (four games, 9-19)

Polanco leads the NL with 16 doubles and his previous six hits have all gone for extra bases. He is 12 for 26 with four walks in his past seven games.

The Pirates’ outfield leads MLB in WAR as a unit, according to Fangraphs. Pirates outfielders are hitting .299/.384/.515, with a 10.5 percent walk rate, .385 wOBA (weighted on-base average) and 144 wRC+ (weighted runs created, where 100 is league average. They are 44 percent above average). Everything but the walk rate leads MLB.

The Pirates hit .356 (52 for 146) in four games against the Braves earlier this week and scored 29 runs. They are 3-0 against the Rockies this year. The Rockies have lost seven in a row to the Pirates, dating to Aug. 30, 2015, and are 2-8 in their past 10 games at PNC Park.

The Rockies’ home ERA is 6.55; their road ERA is 3.68.

The Pirates’ defensive efficiency (the rate of balls in play turned into outs) is 68.6 percent, 17th in baseball. That speaks somewhat to the defense, but also the pitching.

“When you can locate the ball where you need to consistently, it helps,” manager Clint Hurdle said. ”It helps with your shifting, with some other things. That’s an area that we’re working on some things as well, our overall approach off the mound, off the slope. Three pitches or less mentality, getting balls where we need to get them. The whole “ICE” approach, with the intent, the conviction and the execution of the pitches.”

First Published: May 20, 2016, 9:58 p.m.