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Detroit Tigers vs Pittsburgh Pirates June 18th 2025
The Pittsburgh Pirates will play the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The game is set to start at 6:40 PM and will be shown on SN PT. Fans can expect a warm evening with light rain and a gentle breeze blowing in.
The Pirates, managed by Don Kelly, hold a 29-45 record this season. They have struggled on the road with a 10-26 record. On the other side, the Tigers, led by A.J. Hinch, have a strong 47-27 record. They perform well at home with a 25-11 record. Andrew Heaney will start for the Pirates, while Tarik Skubal will pitch for the Tigers.
Pirates vs Tigers Key Information
- Sport: Baseball
- Teams: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers
- Venue: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
- Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
- Betting Odds: Pirates MoneyLine +245, Tigers MoneyLine -303
The Pirates Can Win If…
The Pittsburgh Pirates recently played against the Detroit Tigers and lost 3-7. In that game, Bailey Falter pitched five innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs. Andrew McCutchen was a standout with a double and a run scored, while Spencer Horwitz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each added a hit and a run.
The Pirates have a strong chance to win with their pitching staff. Their team ERA is 3.74, ranking 11th in the league, and they have allowed a batting average against of .231, which is 6th best. With 34 quality starts this season, they rank 4th, showing their ability to keep games close and competitive.
Andrew Heaney will start for the Pirates, and he has an ERA of 3.33 and a WHIP of 1.11. Heaney’s ability to keep runners off base gives the Pirates a solid chance. With key hitters like McCutchen and Kiner-Falefa, who have shown consistency at the plate, the Pirates can capitalize on scoring opportunities.
The Tigers Can Win If…
The Detroit Tigers recently secured a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Casey Mize pitched six innings, allowing only two earned runs. Javier Báez led the offense with two home runs, and Wenceel Pérez added a home run and a triple, showing the team’s power at the plate.
Detroit’s stats highlight their strong performance this season. They have a team batting average of .252, ranking 5th in the league. Their pitching has been solid too, with an ERA of 3.39, placing them 4th overall.
Tarik Skubal is set to start the next game for the Tigers. With an ERA of 1.99 and a WHIP of 0.81, he has been a reliable force on the mound. The combination of Skubal’s pitching and the Tigers’ offensive power gives them a good chance to win.
The Lean
The Tigers are favored with a moneyline of -303, while the Pirates sit at +245. The Tigers have a stronger batting average and on-base percentage, ranking 5th and 8th, respectively. Given these stats and the Tigers’ better pitching ERA of 3.39, the recommendation is to pick the Tigers to win straight up. The model projects the Tigers to win with a score of 5-2.
The total for the game is set at 7.0. The Tigers have a solid pitching staff, ranking 4th in ERA, which suggests a low-scoring game. The Pirates have struggled offensively, with a batting average ranked 19th. Based on these factors, the recommendation is to take the under. The model projects a total score of 7, aligning with the set line.
Stay Ahead of the Diamond
MLB Data & Insights
Pirates Face Monumental Challenge in Tigers’ Ace Skubal
The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the toughest tasks in baseball on Wednesday: trying to beat Tarik Skubal in Detroit. The reigning Cy Young winner has been nearly untouchable, especially on his home mound, as he leads the Detroit Tigers in the second game of the series.
The Skubal Factor
To say Skubal (7-2, 1.99 ERA) has been dominant would be an understatement. He is a perfect 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA in seven home starts this season. Overall, he is riding a 12-start unbeaten streak (7-0, 1.47 ERA) and has allowed just one total run in his last four outings spanning over 30 innings.
“He’s one of the best in the league,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “He will counter whatever they’re doing and he stays in the fight.” Even Skubal admitted that while he didn’t have his best “stuff” early in his last start, he “got better as the game wore on,” a sign of a true ace.
Heaney’s Hard Luck Continues
The Pirates will counter with lefty Andrew Heaney (3-5, 3.33 ERA), who has been a hard-luck pitcher all season. Heaney has been let down by a lack of run support, as the Pirates have scored three or fewer runs in 11 of his 14 starts. While his control has been excellent (no walks in June), he has a poor 9.19 career ERA against the Tigers. This lopsided pitching matchup is the main focus on the scores and odds board.
A Tough Task Gets Tougher
Making matters worse for Pittsburgh is that they will likely be without their best hitter, Bryan Reynolds, who is away from the team for the birth of his child. Facing one of the best pitchers among all MLB teams without your top offensive weapon is a major challenge, a factor discussed in our expert betting guide.
The Tigers showed off their own power in the series opener, blasting four home runs in a 7-3 victory. To see if our experts think the Pirates have any chance of solving Skubal, check out our daily MLB picks.
