Pittsburgh @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( May 27, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 5, Detroit 6
Even as Miguel Cabrera has cooled, Jhonny Peralta has picked up where he left off. Coming off a memorable performance, Peralta and the Detroit Tigers look to sweep their half of an interleague home-and-home series Tuesday when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cabrera saw his 12-game hitting streak – a stretch in which he went 20-for-46 with seven homers and 17 RBIs - end Monday, but Peralta extended his own streak to eight games with his first four-hit game in nearly three years.
Pittsburgh fell to 6-11 in series openers – including 1-7 on the road – with Monday’s 6-5 setback as leadoff hitter Starling Marte was a late scratch because of migraine-like symptoms and the Pirates’ pitching staff yielded more than four runs for the first time in 13 games. However, Pittsburgh has reason to be optimistic as seven of its 10 hits went for extra bases, including five against ace Justin Verlander. The Pirates have won 13 of their last 17 contests.
TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Fox Sports Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jeanmar Gomez (2-0, 2.75 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Rick Porcello (2-2, 6.28)
A long rain delay caused Gomez to exit after 3 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs. The right-hander, holding a spot in the rotation until Charlie Morton returns from the disabled list, gave up one run and three hits before giving way to Vin Mazzaro. Gomez, who has yet to go more than five innings in any of his outings, is 2-2 with a 7.82 ERA in five career starts against the Tigers.
Porcello was fortunate to come away with a no-decision after surrendering five runs and 10 hits over five innings during a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday. The rough start snapped a four-game streak in which the right-hander allowed three or fewer runs in each turn. Although opposing hitters have batted .299 against him this season, Porcello has been masterful in his two career starts against the Pirates, going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Detroit’s lineup Monday included seven hitters batting higher than .300 entering the contest, By comparison, Pittsburgh had none when Marte was scratched.
2. The Pirates are 25-9 in Games 2-4 of a series this season.
3. Peralta’s .341 batting average is 100 points higher than his mark at the same time last season.
PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Tigers 5