Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the MLB match.
The Detroit Tigers, currently leading the American League with a comfortable margin, have only experienced two three-game losing streaks this season. In order to avoid a third, the Detroit Tigers need to secure a home victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who currently sit second from bottom in the National League standings.
Detroit Tigers
After a disappointing end to their series against the Cincinnati Reds, the Detroit Tigers welcomed a timely reset — a scheduled day off arrived at just the right moment. Recharged and ready, the squad will turn to Casey Mize as their starting pitcher. Mize boasts a 6-2 record with a 2.95 ERA, and his second loss could be considered unfortunate. In his appearance against the Baltimore Orioles, he allowed just two runs over 5 and 1/3 innings, while the Detroit Tigers went on to score eight runs after his departure.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates also left their fans disappointed in their most recent series, falling to divisional rivals the Chicago Cubs (1:3). The Chicago Cubs managed to restrict the Pittsburgh Pirates’ offence to just seven runs across the series. As a result, the Pirates saw several solid pitching performances go to waste due to an underwhelming display at the plate. This season, the squad is averaging just 3.18 runs per game, compared to 4.81 from the Detroit Tigers.
Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction
The Detroit Tigers are in the midst of what could become a landmark season by their standards. They are currently on pace for over 95 wins — a milestone they haven’t reached since 1987. Outfielder Riley Greene may become the first Detroit Tigers player in seven years to record 100 RBIs. With that in mind, recent setbacks like the loss to the Cincinnati Reds appear to be minor bumps in an otherwise strong campaign. The well-rested favourites are expected to deliver a confident performance.
