by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
Time: 7:10 p.m. ET
Venue: Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
Where to watch: AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh2, Bally Sports Detroit
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Tigers -145, Pirates +125
WynnBet: Tigers -137, Pirates +127
Caesars: Tigers -143, Pirates +133
Season record
Pirates: 9-13
Tigers: 7-14
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Pirates - Tigers preview and analysis
The Pittsburgh Pirates are another one of those teams that should not be doing what they’re doing to this point. And yes, a 9-13 mark is worthy enough to put this kind of disclaimer on the Pirates because of how bad things have been as of late.
Once upon a time, the Pirates were sitting at 8-8 after winning three of four against the Cubs, giving Pittsburgh people something to enjoy because it sure as hell wasn’t going to be the Pittsburgh Steleers. Then they lost four straight to Milwaukee and San Diego and suddenly crashed and burned like I think we all expected them to.
I can’t help but think we’re in the Twilight Zone 20-plus games into the season with the way the likes of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Miami Marlins and Pirates winning games, but the Pirates might have the chance to keep things rolling with a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers, who are off to a whopping 7-13 start as the young core tries to better the future.
But the Pirates are coming off losing two of three to the San Diego Padres at home by a final score of 5-2. The Pirates had eight hits, but also committed three errors, which sounds par for the course when discussing the Pittsburgh baseball franchise.
Yoshi Tsutsugo and Jack Suwinski each had two hits, but the RBIs came from not those two and it ended up being an awful day for all involved. Joe Musgrove did all the hard work with eight strikeouts through seven innings. Of course it was a revenge game for Musgrove, the former Pirate.
"He threw the ball really well," Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. "We just didn't score any runs while he was in the game."
The Pirates just don’t have anything worth cheering for, outside of Ke’Bryan Hayes. Bryan Reynolds is batting .203, and while Daniel Vogelbach is batting .292, you just know that’s not going to last.
But I feel like we say the same thing with the Pirates, and then they go out and do something like lose two of three to the Los Angeles Dodgers. And somehow the one win in the three-game set was against Clayton Kershaw. Thankfully it didn’t result in Dave Roberts needing to take Kershaw out in the seventh inning after a perfect game.
The Tigers lost the finale 6-3 despite Miguel Cabrera going yard late to trim the deficit. Outside of Cabrera, there was nothing else to cheer for if you’re a Tigers fan. Austin Meadows went 1-for-5, Javy Baez 1-for-4, Jonathan Schoop is down to a .150. Just no offense exists whatsoever.
"We had our opportunities," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. "Elite teams play defense and that's what that team does."
Prediction
Nothing more to be had with this one. The Pirates are in a better spot and I think they get the win. Pirates win 8-4
Betting trends
Pirates are 43-78 as an underdog between +125 and +175 the past three seasons.
Pirates are 41-56 the past three seasons after scoring two runs or less the last game.
Tigers are 13-10 as a home favorite the past three seasons.
Projected lineup
Pirates:
Daniel Vogelbach (L) DH
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Yoshi Tsutsugo (L) 1B
Ben Gamel (L) LF
Josh VanMeter (L) 2B
Jack Suwinski (L) RF
Cole Tucker (S) SS
Roberto Perez (R) C
SP - Bryse Wilson
Daniel Vogelbach (L) DH
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Yoshi Tsutsugo (L) 1B
Ben Gamel (L) LF
Josh VanMeter (L) 2B
Jack Suwinski (L) RF
Cole Tucker (S) SS
Roberto Perez (R) C
SP - Bryse Wilson
Tigers:
Robbie Grossman (S) LF
Javier Baez (R) SS
Austin Meadows (L) RF
Miguel Cabrera (R) DH
Harold Castro (L) 1B
Jonathan Schoop (R) 2B
Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B
Tucker Barnhart (S) C
Akil Baddoo (L) CF
SP - Michael Pineda
Robbie Grossman (S) LF
Javier Baez (R) SS
Austin Meadows (L) RF
Miguel Cabrera (R) DH
Harold Castro (L) 1B
Jonathan Schoop (R) 2B
Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B
Tucker Barnhart (S) C
Akil Baddoo (L) CF
SP - Michael Pineda
Statistical leaders
Pirates:
Batting average: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- .333
Hits: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- 24
Home runs: Two tied -- 3
RBI: Michael Chavis -- 12
Wins: Dillon Peters -- 3
Saves: Two tied -- 2
ERA: Mitch Keller -- 5.32
Tigers:
Batting average: Austin Meadows -- .319
Hits: Austin Meadows -- 22
Home runs: Spencer Torkelson -- 3
RBI: Two tied -- 11
Wins: Jacob Barnes -- 2
Saves: Gregory Soto -- 3
ERA: Eduardo Rodriguez -- 5.33
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
