The Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up their interleague series on Wednesday evening in the final meeting of the season between the clubs. The Tigers will be without the designated hitter and are underdogs on the MLB odds.
How to Bet Tigers vs Pirates MLB Week 12 Lines & Game Info
- When: Wednesday, 7:05 PM ET
- Where: PNC Park
- Probable pitchers (away/home): Matthew Boyd/Trevor Williams
- TV: MLB Extra Innings
- Live Stream: MLB.tv
- Radio: 93.7 The Fan
- MLB Week 12 Lines: Pittsburgh Pirates -180 (Total 9)
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Why Bet on Detroit?
Jordan Zimmermann said he’s hoping to make his next start for the Tigers. Zimmermann threw 69 pitches over 4 2/3 innings in a rehab outing Thursday at Triple-A Toledo, and he could potentially return to Detroit’s starting rotation sometime this week. The veteran right-hander initially landed on the injured list back in late April with a partially-torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
Catcher Grayson Greiner, second baseman Josh Harrison and shortstop Jordy Mercer are all also on the injured list. Mercer (quad) had to be pulled off a minor league rehab assignment late last month, and there is currently no timetable for his return to Detroit’s active roster. Greiner is out with a lower back strain. The 26-year-old backstop has really struggled at the plate this season, slashing .162/.231/.279 with five homers and 14 RBI in 43 games. John Hicks has taken over as the No. 1 catcher.
Miguel Cabrera has six games this season with three or more hits. Cabrera now has 2,744 in his Major League career, passing Al Oliver for 57th place on the MLB all-time hits list. Cabrera is five hits away from tying Luke Appling for 56th.
Tigers lefty Matt Boyd (5-5) was charged with the loss after lasting just four innings against the Royals last Thursday. He surrendered six hits on five runs (four earned) and two walks while striking out seven. Boyd handed the Royals the lead with a solo shot to Nicky Lopez in the second. He then allowed Martin Maldonado to score on a balk. It took Boyd 51 pitches to get through the first two innings, which proved to haunt him soon enough. In the fourth frame, the southpaw gave up a two-run double to Whit Merrifield, who scored on a throwing error by Niko Goodrum.
The outing was Boyd’s shortest since a May 14 loss to the Astros. But the 28-year-old ace has fanned at least seven batters for the sixth straight game, further improving his impressive 112:17 K:BB ratio to go with a 3.35 ERA and 1.08 WHIP.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 3.49
- Hits: 7.74
- Walks: 2.75
- Strike Outs: 9.88
Defense
- Runs: 5.39
- Hits: 9.25
- Walks: 3.39
- Strike Outs: 8.01
Why Bet on Pittsburgh?
Entering this series, the Pirates have gone 7-2 against American League teams this season (3-2 at home and 4-0 on the road). Since the start of the 2013 season, the Pirates have posted the best interleague record among N.L. teams (80-49, .620) and the second-best overall record behind Boston (84-41, .672).
Starling Marte has reached base safely in 28 of his last 29 interleague games, going 41-for-116 (.353). Overall, he owns a career average of .317 (142-for-448) and 16 home runs in 114 career games against American League teams.
The Pirates remain without relievers Chris Stratton and primary setup man Keone Kela. Kela hit the injured list on May 8 with a right shoulder issue and then experienced a setback while gearing up for a minor league rehab assignment at the end of last month. Stratton (side) worked two innings of relief in his latest rehab appearance Friday at Triple-A Indianapolis. The right-hander has been on the shelf since May 25 due to discomfort in his right side. He should return to a long relief role in Pittsburgh sometime this week.
According to manager Clint Hurdle, the Bucs intend to have Trevor Williams return from the injured after one rehab start at Triple-A, where he got his pitch count up to 90. Williams (2-1) faced Detroit in April, giving up two runs over six innings. Williams had no complications with his strained right side while covering three innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Indianapolis last week. Williams tossed 71 pitches in that outing, so there’s a good chance the Pirates exercise more caution with his workload Wednesday than they normally would. Williams submitted a 3.33 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 54 innings before landing on the injured list in mid-May. Williams is 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA (19.0ip/2er) in three career starts vs. Detroit.
Team Stats
Offense- Runs: 4.43
- Hits: 9.15
- Walks: 2.68
- Strike Outs: 8.18
Defense
- Runs: 5.51
- Hits: 9.18
- Walks: 3.71
- Strike Outs: 8.75
Astros vs Reds MLB Odds, Preview & Expert Pick
Tigers vs Pirates MLB Week 12 Betting Trends
- Tigers are 3-10 in their last 13 interleague games vs. a right-handed starter
- Pirates are 6-0 in Williams’ last 6 starts vs. American League Central
- Tigers are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Pittsburgh
- The total has gone OVER in 4 of Detroit’s last 6 games against an opponent in the National League Central division
- Pirates are 2-9 SU in their last 11 games
- The total has gone OVER in 15 of Pittsburgh’s last 20 games against Detroit
Expert Final Score Prediction for Tigers vs Pirates
Detroit Tigers 3 – Pittsburgh Pirates 4
