In this article, we will formulate a Tigers vs Pirates prediction for this MLB game on Wednesday, June 18th at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this MLB matchup.
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The Detroit Tigers are 47-27 this year after they won game one in this series by a score of 7-3. Detroit trailed 3-2 in the third inning, but they scored the last five runs in the game for the win. The Tigers recorded nine hits and they committed one error in the game, while they were led by Perez, who went 2-4 with one home run and three RBIs in the win. Detroit started Mize, who allowed five hits and two earned runs over 6.0 innings for the win, while Lee, Kahnle, and Hanifee closed out the game.
Prior to this series, the Tigers lost two out of three against the Reds, but won two out of three against the Orioles before that. Detroit has won three of its last five games, and they are currently first in the AL Central standings. The Detroit pitching staff has a 3.34 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP and a .232 opponent batting average, while the offense has scored 358 runs with a .252 batting average and a .322 on-base percentage this season. Spencer Torkelson has led Detroit with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs, while Riley Greene has added 15 home runs and 51 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Detroit is Tarik Skubal, who is 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP over 90.1 innings pitched this year.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Pirates are 29-45 this season after they dropped game one in this series on Tuesday night. Pittsburgh took a 3-2 lead in the third inning, but didn’t score over the last six innings for the loss. The Pirates recorded five hits in the game, and they were led by Canario, who went 1-3 with two RBIs in the loss. Pittsburgh started Falter, who allowed five hits and three earned runs over 5.0 innings, while Mlodzinski allowed four earned runs in relief for the loss.
Prior to this series, the Pirates lost three out of four against the Cubs, but did win two out of three against the Marlins before that. Pittsburgh has lost four of its last five games, and they are currently last in the NL Central standings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff has a 3.74 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and a .231 opponent batting average, while their offense has scored 235 runs with a .224 batting average and a .301 on-base percentage this season. Oneil Cruz has led Pittsburgh with 13 home runs and 30 RBIs, while Bryan Reynolds has added eight home runs and 39 RBIs this year. The projected starting pitcher for Pittsburgh is Andrew Heaney, who is 3-5 with a 3.33 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over 78.1 innings pitched this season.
Why the Tigers will beat the Pirates
- The Pirates have lost each of their last nine Wednesday games against AL Central opponents that held a winning record.
- The Tigers have won each of their last six night games following a home win.
- The Pirates have failed to cover the run line in each of their last eight games against AL Central opponents.
- The Tigers have covered the run line each of their last four games against National League opponents that held a losing record.
- The Tigers have led after 5 innings in eight of their last 10 night games at Comerica Park against National League opponents.
Total Runs Facts
- Each of the Pirates’ last six games after playing the previous day have gone UNDER the total runs line.
- Each of the Tigers’ last four games against NL Central opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Pirates’ last nine games against American League opponents.
- The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in six of the Tigers’ last seven games.
Detroit Tigers Player Prop Facts
- Riley Greene has scored at least one run in each of the Tigers’ last seven home games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Tarik Skubal has recorded a win in five of his last six appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Spencer Torkelson has recorded a Double in each of the Tigers’ last four games against NL opponents that held a losing record.
- Tarik Skubal has recorded eight or more strikeouts in five of his last six appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Matt Vierling has hit a home run in each of his last three home appearances against NL Central opponents that held a losing record.
- Jake Rogers has recorded at least one RBI in each of his last five home appearances against NL Central opponents.
- Wenceel Perez has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 11 appearances in night games against teams that held a losing record.
Pittsburgh Pirates Player Prop Facts
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded a Double in six of his last seven road appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Andrew Heaney has recorded four or more strikeouts in each of his last six appearances in night games against AL teams that held a winning record.
- Andrew McCutchen has hit a home run in three of his last five road appearances after playing the previous day.
- Andrew McCutchen has recorded an RBI in each of his last three appearances against the Tigers after playing the previous day.
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 14 appearances against AL Central opponents.
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa has scored at least one run in seven of his last eight appearances against the Tigers.
Tigers vs Pirates Prediction
Detroit was able to pull away in game one of this series for an easy win, and they will look to make it two in a row here. The Tigers are 25-11 at home this year, while the Pirates are just 10-26 on the road. Pittsburgh has scored three runs or fewer in five straight games, and they are going against Skubal, who has allowed a total of one earned run in his last four starts (30.2 IP). I think Skubal will have another great game, and I like the Tigers -1.5 here.