Fine pitcher is down in numbers … (5)
I believe the answer is:
fewer
'down in numbers' is the definition.
(fewer in number)
'fine pitcher' is the wordplay.
'fine' becomes 'f' (abbreviation in pencil classifications).
'pitcher' becomes 'ewer' (synonyms).
'f'+'ewer'='FEWER'
'is' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for fewer that I've seen before include "Reduced" , "in smaller numbers" , "smaller number of people" , "Less in number" , "Not so many" .)