The Detroit Tigers visit the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon to wrap up a three-game series at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 12:35 PM ET. Detroit has dropped eight of its last nine games, including the first two games of this series.
Pittsburgh has won the first two matchups by scores of 3-0 and 8-5. The Pirates are trying for their fourth sweep of the season and have won nine of their last 12 at home. Detroit will send prospect Troy Melton to the mound for his MLB debut. The Tigers are 5-5 in their last ten matchups with Pittsburgh overall.
Tigers Preview – Rookie Gets the Call as Skid Continues
Troy Melton will make his first MLB start after posting a 2.72 ERA with Triple-A Toledo and a 3.23 ERA with Double-A Erie earlier this year. He struck out 101 batters in 75 1/3 innings between the two levels. Detroit hopes he can settle into the rotation or help from the bullpen later in the year.
Detroit enters this game 60-42 overall and leads the AL Central. The offense is scoring 4.80 runs per game and has been strong on the road, where the team has hit the over in 24 of its last 40 games. Javier Baez, who returned Tuesday from a shoulder issue, has good history against Falter.
The Tigers bullpen has thrown over 325 innings this season with a 3.82 ERA. Will Vest has been sharp with a 2.25 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 44.1 innings. Reese Olson will be available out of the pen after throwing five innings in his last outing against Texas.
Pirates Preview – Looking to Complete the Sweep
Bailey Falter takes the mound for the Pirates with a 6-5 record and 4.00 ERA. He has given up seven home runs over his last three starts and has a 6.28 ERA in July. Falter faced Detroit back on June 17 and allowed three runs over five innings, including two homers.
Pittsburgh is 41-61 overall and 28-24 at home. The offense averages just 3.37 runs per game, but it has scored 11 runs through the first two games of this series. The team has done well in low-scoring games and has hit the team total under in 64 of 101 games this season.
The bullpen has a 3.69 ERA over 348.2 innings and has been one of the team’s most reliable groups. David Bednar and Dennis Santana have helped hold leads late. The Pirates have gone 21-12 in their last 33 home games and continue to be a better bet at PNC Park.
Betting Prediction
Detroit is a -155 favorite with the total sitting at 8.5 runs. Melton has good strikeout numbers in the minors, but this is his first time in the majors. The Tigers need a spark, and the matchup could help. Falter has been hit hard in recent starts and gives up too many home runs.
The Pirates have been strong at home, but they struggle to score and could have trouble against a hard-throwing righty. Detroit still holds the better lineup and should avoid the sweep. Trends point to value on the Tigers run line and the full game over.
Pick: Tigers -1.5 (+105)
