Detroit lost two of three against Cincinnati over the weekend but can correct course against Pittsburgh.
The Detroit Tigers open up the second leg of their current six-game homestand with a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday evening. Ahead of the matchup, both teams got a breather on Monday.
The Bucs come in having lost three of four to the Chicago Cubs on the road in their previous series, but had won five of six prior to that, stretching across the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins at home.
They currently reside in the basement of the National League Central, a distant 15.5 games behind the first-place Cubs with a minus-54 run differential while going 19-19 at PNC Park and 10-25 on the road.
The Tigers, on the other hand, hold onto a tenuous half-game lead over the Cubbies for the best record in baseball while maintaining their MLB-best nine-game lead in the Central over the Minnesota Twins . Detroit is tied for third with the New York Mets for the best run differential at plus-80.
Statistically speaking, the Motor City Kitties are 11th in batting average (.251), 12th in on-base percentage (.321) and eighth in slugging (.412), which adds up to a ninth-best OPS of .733 on offense. On the mound, their 3.35 ERA is the fourth best in the majors while their 1.19 WHIP is in a three-way tie for fourth and batting average against of .233 ranks 10th.
To open up the series, AJ Hinch sends Casey Mize out to the mound while Don Kelly turns to Bailey Falter to start for his Bucs. Here is how the two match up.
Detroit Tigers (46-27) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (29-44)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: Bucs Dugout
Media: FanDuel Sports Detroit
, MLB.TV
, Tigers Radio Network
Game 74: RHP Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA) vs. LHP Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36 ERA)
MIZE
Baseball Savant
FALTER
Baseball Savant