The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series starting June 17, 2025, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Here’s a preview of the matchup:
Game Details:
• Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
• Time: 6:40 p.m. ET
• Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
• Weather: Partly sunny, ~85°F
• Broadcast: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, 97.1 FM The Ticket
Team Overview:
• Pirates (29-44, 5th in NL Central): Struggling on the road (10-25), Pittsburgh’s offense has been lackluster, batting .223 with 30 RBI and 13 HRs. Their pitching, led by Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36 ERA), has been a bright spot, with Falter posting a 1.67 ERA in his last seven starts (Pirates 6-1 in those games).
• Tigers (46-27, 1st in AL Central): Detroit is strong at home (24-11) and leads the AL Central by nine games. Their offense is hitting .276 with 49 RBI and 14 HRs, led by Spencer Torkelson (.233, 16 HR, 47 RBI) and Gleyber Torres (.276 BA). Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA) starts for the Tigers, giving them an edge.
Pitching Matchup:
• Pirates – Bailey Falter (LHP): Falter has been solid, with a 4-0 record in his last seven starts. However, Pittsburgh’s road struggles could challenge him against Detroit’s potent lineup.
• Tigers – Casey Mize (RHP): Mize’s consistency (2.95 ERA) and Detroit’s home dominance make him a favorite. The Tigers have won 68.1% of games as favorites this season.
Betting Odds (via ESPN/FanDuel):
• Moneyline: Tigers -202, Pirates +167
• Run Line: Tigers -1.5 (+105), Pirates +1.5 (-125)
• Over/Under: 8.5 runs (O: EVEN, U: -120)
• Analysis: Detroit is favored due to their strong home record and Mize’s edge over Falter. The Pirates’ weak road offense suggests a low-scoring game, with posts on X favoring the Tigers to lead through five innings.
Key Players to Watch:
• Pirates: Andrew McCutchen (.263 BA, .349 OBP) and the reigning NL MVP, Paul Skenes, who pitches later in the series (Thursday). Skenes returns from a 2023 UCL injury, adding intrigue.
• Tigers: Torkelson (13th in MLB for HRs) and Torres (club-best .276 BA) drive the offense. Tarik Skubal, a Cy Young favorite, pitches Wednesday.
Recent Context:
• The Tigers are 5-5 in their last 10 games, coming off a series loss to the Reds. The Pirates have won 5 of 12 games as underdogs at +167 or worse. Head-to-head, Detroit has a slight edge historically (35-30), but Pittsburgh won 10-2 in their last meeting on May 29, 2024.
• Spring training games (March 2025) saw mixed results, with Detroit winning 5-3 on March 9 and a 8-8 tie on March 14.
