7-21-2025 – By Drew Cagle – @_dcagle on X
It’s hard to argue that the Pittsburgh Pirates have been in a lower spot than they are at the moment. A weekend series sweep at the hands of the lowly Chicago White Sox has spirits at a season-low on the North Shore.
In come the American League-leading Detroit Tigers, who’ve been stuck in rut of their own lately. Despite a Sunday Night Baseball win over the Texas Rangers, the Tigers have lost 6 of their last 7. In their prior meeting this season, Detroit won 2 of 3 inside Comerica Park in mid-June. Pittsburgh earned an extra-inning win in the final game of the series, but the Tigers slugged their way to two victories. They outscored the Pirates 20-13 in the series.
With rumblings from the fanbase about general manager Ben Cherington, owner Bob Nutting, and the lackluster on-field product, this series will test the mettle of Pittsburgh’s locker room. They’re tens of games out of contention with the trade deadlines just a couple of weeks away. Will the team splinter and continue their downward spiral, or recover to take a series against a World Series contender?
7/21
Pirates: RHP Paul Skenes – 121.0 IP, 4-8, 131 K/30 BB, 2.01 ERA, 0.93 WHIP
Tigers: RHP Jack Flaherty – 100.2 IP, 5-9, 124 K/40 BB, 4.65 ERA, 1.24 WHIP
7/22
Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller – 119.0 IP, 3-10, 92 K/27 BB, 3.48 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
Tigers: RHP Casey Mize – 88.2 IP, 9-3, 77 K/22 BB, 3.15 ERA, 1.22 WHIP
7/23
Pirates: LHP Bailey Falter – 101.1 IP, 6-5, 61 K/35 BB, 4.00 ERA, 1.23 WHIP
Tigers: RHP Reese Olson – 63.0 IP, 4-3, 61 K/23 BB, 2.71 ERA, 1.19 WHIP
Pirates: After an ice-cold start to the season, David Bednar has settled back into his closer’s role. The save to close out a 2-1 win in Minnesota gave the Mars product his 13th save on the season, and lowered his ERA to a respectable 2.53.
Tigers: Outfielder Riley Greene, in the midst of a career year, has caught fire. He’s hit safely in 5 of his last 6 games, including a 4-RBI day against the Mariners on July 12.
Pirates: Much of Pittsburgh’s offense has been dorment since their sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals at the start of the month of July. Jack Suwinski is just 1-for-12 (.083) since his callup on July 8. He’s looking to right the ship and catch fire with the weather.
Tigers: Despite his stellar season so far, Casey Mize was off his game last time out. He allowed 6 runs over 3 innings to the Seattle Mariners, inflating his ERA to over 3.00. Manager A.J. Hinch had a short leash, pulling the 28-year-old after just 68 pitches.
Pirates: RHP Johan Oviedo, RHP Jared Jones, 1B Enmanuel Valdez
Oviedo (lat) continues to progress through his rehab assignments. Jones and Valdez have been ruled out for the season.
Tigers: RHP Alex Lange, RHP Jose Urquidy, RF Kerry Carpenter, RHP Alex Cobb
Of the four, Carpenter (hamstring injury) is closest to returning. He has started running and throwing drills, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com.
Notes
- Detroit has performed far better against left-handed pitching (.262 average) than against right-handed pitching (.245) this season. This is of note due to Pittsburgh sending Skenes, Keller, and Falter to the hill.
- On the other hand, the Pirates have struggled mightily against righties themselves. They’re hitting just .235, with a .307 OBP.
- Despite the Pirates’ cold spell, they’re still a respectable 26-24 at PNC Park this season. Detroit is 27-22 away from home.
- The bottom line for Pittsburgh is that they need to right the ship before the trade deadline. Even if it doesn’t result in victories, rehabbing the value of potential trade chips can only help the future of the club, no matter who’s in charge.
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