Series Preview: Detroit Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates 5/28-5/29

The Detroit Tigers will play a two-game series, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Tigers are coming off a series win over the Blue Jays while the Pirates are coming off a series win over the Braves.

Detroit Tigers (26-27) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (25-29)

Game 1:

Date: Tuesday, May 20
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Game 2:

Date: Wednesday, May 21
Time: 6:40 pm EST
Broadcast: Bally Sports Detroit

Probable Starting Pitchers

Game 1: Tarik Skubal (6-1, 2.25 ERA) vs. Jared Jones (3-4, 3.05 ERA)

Skubal gets the ball to start this short series, he is making his 11^th start he is 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA, a 2.15 FIP, a 0.85 WHIP, and 72 strikeouts in 60 innings. In his last start, he faced the Royals and suffered his first loss of the season giving up four runs in five innings on six hits; he walked two and struck out six. In his career against the Pirates, he is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings. Jones gets the ball for the Pirates making his 11^th career start, he is 3-4 with a 3.05 ERA, a 3.59 FIP, a 0.96 WHIP, and 68 strikeouts in 59 innings. In his last start, he faced the Giants going six innings giving up three runs on six hits; he walked three and struck out five. He has never faced the Tigers in his career.

Game 2: Jack Flaherty (1-4, 3.84 ERA) vs. Paul Skenes (1-0, 2.25 ERA)

Flaherty gets the ball for Detroit making his 11^th start, he is 1-4 with a 3.84 ERA, a 2.99, FIP, a 1.08 WHIP, and 81 strikeouts in 61 innings. In his last start, he faced the Blue Jays going 6.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out nine. In his career, he is 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA, a 1.08 WHIP, and 90 strikeouts in 89.1 innings. Skenes the young phenom will make his fourth career start, he is 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA, a 2.26 FIP, a 1.00 WHIP, and 21 strikeouts in 16 innings. In his last start, he faced the Giants going six innings giving up one run on six hits; he walked one and struck out three. This will be Skenes’ debut against the Tigers.

Tigers vs. Pirates Leaders

Tigers:

AVG – Kerry Carpenter – .285
HR – Riley Greene – 9
RBI – Kerry Carpenter – 29
IP – Jack Flaherty – 61.0
ERA – Reese Olson – 1.92
K – Jack Flaherty – 81

Pirates:

AVG – Connor Joe – .273
HR – Andrew McCutchen – 7
RBI – Bryan Reynolds – 28
IP – Mitch Keller – 67.2
ERA – Jared Jones – 3.05
K – Jared Jones – 68

Tigers vs. Pirates Numbers

Tigers

AVG: .236 (16)
OPS: .684 (20)
R: 225 (18)
HR: 46 (23)
ERA: 3.77 (10)
K: 443 (19)
WHIP: 1.20 (9)

Pirates

AVG: .228 (24)
OPS: .661 (26)
R: 214 (21)
HR: 50 (19)
ERA: 4.05 (16)
K: 451 (14)
WHIP: 1.27 (15)

Wrap Up

The Detroit Tigers picked up a much needed series win over the Blue Jays now they will face two young phenom arms that are tearing it up to start their big league career. The Tigers counter with their ace and will look to at least come away with a series split and stay in the race for a playoff spot.