Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates Picks and Predictions June 17th 2025

Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates June 17th 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates will visit the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Tuesday, June 17, 2025. The game is set to begin at 6:40 PM under the lights. Fans can catch the action on SN PT as the Pirates look to improve their road record of 10-25. The Tigers, with a home record of 24-11, aim to continue their strong performance in the AL Central. On the mound, the Pirates will start Bailey Falter, who has an ERA of 3.36. The Tigers will counter with Casey Mize, who holds an ERA of 2.95. The weather forecast predicts warm conditions with overcast clouds and a light breeze.

Pirates vs Tigers Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers
• Venue: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
• Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2025
• Betting Odds: Tigers MoneyLine -202, Pirates MoneyLine +168

The Pirates Can Win If…

The Pittsburgh Pirates recently played against the Chicago Cubs, ending with a narrow 2-3 loss. Mitch Keller pitched six innings, allowing only three hits and two earned runs. Spencer Horwitz was a standout at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one RBI.

Despite recent losses, the Pirates have reasons to be optimistic. Their starting pitcher, Bailey Falter, holds a solid ERA of 3.36 and a WHIP of 1.12. The Pirates’ pitching staff ranks 6th in batting average against, limiting opponents to a .230 average.

Offensively, Andrew McCutchen leads the team with a .263 batting average and seven home runs. The Pirates also excel in stolen bases, ranking 5th in the league with 68. With strong pitching and key players like McCutchen, the Pirates have the tools to win their next game.

The Tigers Can Win If…

The Detroit Tigers are ready to bounce back after their recent 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds. Despite the loss, the Tigers showed power at the plate with two home runs. Wenceel Pérez and Jahmai Jones each hit a home run, and Gleyber Torres added three hits.

Detroit’s offense has been strong this season, ranking sixth in batting average at .251. They also have a solid slugging percentage of .412, which ranks eighth. With players like Spencer Torkelson leading the team in home runs and RBI, the Tigers have the ability to score runs quickly.

On the mound, Casey Mize will start for the Tigers with an impressive ERA of 2.95. Mize’s performance has been key for Detroit, as he holds a 6-2 record this season. His ability to keep opponents’ batting averages low at .232 gives the Tigers a solid chance to win against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Lean

The Tigers are favored with a moneyline of -202 against the Pirates at +168. The Tigers have a higher batting average and on-base percentage, ranking 6th and 10th, respectively. With a projected score of Tigers 5, Pirates 3, the recommendation is to pick the Tigers to win straight up.

The over/under line is set at 8.0. The Tigers’ pitching ranks 4th in ERA and 8th in strikeouts, suggesting a strong defense. Considering the projected total score of 8, the recommendation is to take the under in this game.

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Tigers Look to Rebound at Home Against Pirates

The Detroit Tigers are aiming to avoid a third three-game losing streak this season as they open a home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. After dropping the final two games of their weekend set against the Cincinnati Reds by a combined score of 19-5, Detroit is looking to reset following a much-needed off day.

Sunday’s 8-4 defeat was one of Detroit’s sloppiest performances of the year. The Tigers committed three errors and mishandled a potential double play opportunity in the eighth inning, leading to a four-run outburst from Cincinnati that sealed the game.

“We obviously are better at executing those plays,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “That’s not been our identity. It’s never easy losing a winnable series, but that’s what happened. We get a day off to reset ourselves.”

For more matchup breakdowns and projections across the league, head over to the MLB game previews section.

Casey Mize Ready to Steady the Ship

Detroit will hand the ball to right-hander Casey Mize (6-2, 2.95 ERA), who will make his 12th start of the season. In his last outing against Baltimore, Mize allowed just two runs over 5 1/3 innings but was saddled with the loss as the bullpen surrendered eight more.

Hinch praised Mize’s recent form, noting his velocity and effectiveness with the splitter. “It was just a lot of pitches early and some deep counts. They made him work, but I thought he battled really well,” Hinch added.

Mize, who missed time last month due to a minor hamstring issue, has held opponents to two or fewer runs in eight of his starts. He’s only faced the Pirates once in his career, giving up two runs in five innings.

For expert analysis and pitching trends from top analysts, check out the MLB betting guide.

Falter Looks to Keep Pirates on Track

Pittsburgh counters with left-hander Bailey Falter (5-3, 3.36 ERA), who has been quietly reliable across his last eight outings, going unbeaten during that stretch. He pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball in his last start against the Miami Marlins, scattering five hits in a 5-2 win.

Falter doesn’t overpower hitters — he has just 46 strikeouts in 75 innings — but he excels at limiting hard contact. He has not allowed multiple home runs in any of his last 12 starts and has kept opposing lineups off balance despite limited strikeout totals.

This will be Falter’s first career appearance against Detroit. For betting picks across today’s slate, visit the MLB picks section.

Pirates Aim to Spark Offense After Cubs Setback

The Pirates are coming off a frustrating series against the division rival Cubs, dropping three of four despite strong pitching. Chicago held Pittsburgh to just seven total runs, and manager Don Kelly noted the missed opportunities.

“It was a well-fought series,” Kelly said. “It stinks when you go 1-3 in those series because we know we had a chance to win some of those games.”

Kelly, who spent most of his playing career with the Tigers from 2009 to 2014, returns to Comerica Park in his new role. He’ll be hoping for more production at the plate to back another promising start from Falter.

To find trusted picks and personalized insights, explore the available buy picks curated by top handicappers.

Who Has the Edge?

Both teams will be seeking a bounce-back performance in this interleague clash. Detroit’s key will be tightening its defense and capitalizing on Mize’s consistency, while the Pirates will look to extend Falter’s solid stretch and find a spark offensively.

For a look at who’s dominating the MLB handicapping scene this month, visit the leaderboard of top experts to see who’s making profitable calls.