Detroit Tigers: Get to Know the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates

The Detroit Tigers will try to hit a few home runs into the Allegheny River.

The Detroit Tigers will be playing their first game since Sunday as they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates this weekend. The Pirates, fresh off a walk-off win over the Twins yesterday afternoon to snap a seven-game losing streak, are looking for their first series win of 2020.

The Tigers did get word from the MLB offices they will be making up the series with the St.Louis Cardinals on August 12th with a doubleheader and another on September 10 in St. Louis. Also announced yesterday, 28-player rosters will remain in place through the end of 2020 season, including the Postseason. Doubleheaders will allow a 29th player, and taxi squads will increase from 3 to 5. Detroit’s next day off will not be until September 3rd so a stretch of 25 games in 24 days begins tonight.

Pitching Matchups

Today- Matthew Boyd vs Chad Kuhl

Here is how Boyd has faired against the Pirates’ batters he has faced:

• Josh Bell: 2-for-4
• Adam Frazier: 0-for-3
• Jorge Polanco 11-for-39 (.282/.317/.487 with 2HR, 8 RBIs)

Here is how Kuhl has faired against the Tigers’ batters he has faced:

• Miguel Cabrera: 2-for-5 (1HR)
• Jeimer Candelario: 2-for-7
• JaCoby Jones: 1-for-6
• Jonathan Schoop: 1-for-5

Saturday-Ivan Nova vs Derek Holland

Here is how Nova has faired against the Pirates’ batters he has faced:

• Jorge Polanco:  2-for-9
• Jarrod Dyson: 0-for-5

Here is how Holland has faired against the Tigers’ batters he has faced:

• Miguel Cabrera: 6-for-13 (2 HR, 7RBIs, 4BB)
• C.J. Cron: 2-for-18
• Jonathan Schoop: 3-for-11

Sunday- Spencer Turnbull vs Joe Musgrove

Here is how Turnbull has faired against the Pirates’ batters he has faced:

• Josh Bell: 1-for-2
• Adam Fraiser: 0-for-3
• Colin Morgan:  0-for-2 1BB

Here is how Musgrove has faired against the Tigers’ batters he has faced:

• Miguel Cabrera: 1-for-4
• C.J. Cron: 2-for-18
• Jonathan Schoop: 3-for-5
• JaCoby Jones: 0-for-3
• Niko Goodrum: 1-for-3

Gregory Polanco is off to a slow start (1-for-19) but Colin Morgan has shown the power, hitting 5 home runs so far in the season. Pitching wise, the Pirates suffered a blow with the loss of Nick Burdi for the year on the IL. JT Brubaker replaces Mitch Keller in the rotation, who is out with an oblique injury.

For Detroit at 5-5, this is an opportunity to go over .500 and give themselves a bit of breathing room for the early playoff picture. All the games will be on Tigers Radio and Fox Sports Detroit with today’s game starting at 7:05 pm, Saturday at 4:05 pm, and Sunday’s game at 1:35 pm.