The Pittsburgh Pirates face the Detroit Tigers in Game 2 of their three-game series at Comerica Park with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET.

Pitching Matchup:

• Pirates: LHP Martín Pérez (2-4, 4.85 ERA) takes the mound. Pérez has struggled on the road in 2025, with a 5.40 ERA over 45 innings, allowing 10 home runs. His last start against the Cubs saw him give up 4 earned runs in 5 innings. Against left-handed batters, opponents hit .286 with a .795 OPS, which could be exploited by Tigers’ lefty hitters like Riley Greene.

• Tigers: LHP Tarik Skubal (7-2, 1.99 ERA) starts for Detroit. Skubal, the 2024 AL Cy Young winner, has been dominant, leading MLB with a 0.81 WHIP and 111 strikeouts. In his last seven starts, he’s posted a 1.81 ERA over 49.2 innings with 63 K’s and just 4 walks. His precision (9 BB all season) makes him a tough matchup for Pittsburgh’s offense, which ranks near the bottom in runs scored.

The Teams:

• Pirates (29-44, 5th NL Central): Pittsburgh dropped Game 1, 7-3, with their offense managing only 3 runs despite a brief 3-2 lead. Bailey Falter took the loss, and reliever Carmen Mlodzinski was hit hard. Bryan Reynolds exited early due to a defensive substitution, but no injury was reported; expect him back in the lineup (.275 AVG, 24 HR, 88 RBI in 2024). Andrew McCutchen (.263 AVG) has been hot, with two homers in his last five games. However, the Pirates’ offense has struggled, averaging just 3.2 runs per game, and their bullpen has been inconsistent.

• Tigers (46-27, 1st AL Central): Detroit is the best team in baseball by record, riding a potent offense and stellar pitching. In Game 1, Javier Báez (3 H, 2 HR), Wenceel Pérez (HR, 3 RBI), and Riley Greene (HR, 2 RBI) powered the win. Greene (.276 AVG, 49 RBI) and Gleyber Torres (.333 AVG in last 7 games) are key threats. The Tigers have crushed left-handed pitching, which bodes well against Pérez. Casey Mize’s strong outing in Game 1 (6 IP, 2 ER) preserved the bullpen for Skubal’s start.

Key Storylines:

• Skubal vs. Pirates’ Offense: Pittsburgh’s weak offense faces a near-impossible task against Skubal, who’s allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his last seven starts. The Pirates must capitalize on early counts to avoid falling behind against his elite fastball-slider combo.

• Pérez’s Road Woes: Pérez needs to limit damage against Detroit’s power bats, especially Greene and Spencer Torkelson (16 HR). Comerica Park’s dimensions (winds blowing in at 10 mph) may help suppress homers, but Pérez’s tendency to allow hard contact is a concern.

• Injuries and Absences: The Pirates are without RHPs Johan Oviedo, Jared Jones, and others due to elbow injuries, thinning their pitching depth. Detroit’s Matt Vierling (shoulder) and Reese Olson (finger) are on the IL, but the Tigers’ lineup remains deep.

• Weather: Low 80’s with a chance of pop-up showers, but likely clear at game time. Winds from the south at 13 mph could slightly favor pitchers.

Prediction and Odds:

• Detroit is favored at -200, with an over/under of 8.5 runs. The Tigers’ dominance against lefties and Skubal’s edge, projecting a low-scoring affair early. Expect Skubal to stifle Pittsburgh for 6-7 innings, while Pérez may allow 3-4 runs. Tigers likely win 5-2, taking a 2-0 series lead.

• Betting: Tigers -1.5 (-110) and under 8.5 (-115) are popular picks due to Skubal’s dominance and Pittsburgh’s offensive struggles.

Where to Watch:

• TV: ATTP (Pittsburgh), FanDuel Sports Network (Detroit)

• Stream: ESPN, MLB.tv (blackout restrictions may apply)

• Radio: ESPN Radio, 97.1 FM The Ticket