Free Pick: Pirates vs. Tigers Odds
Looking for Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Free MLB predictions? MLB betting sees the Pirates taking on the Tigers on 9/26 at Comerica Park, in Detroit. This free MLB baseball pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Pirates Tigers matchup.
2026 MLB Handicapping – Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers
(81-79) Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers (75-85)
Date: Sep 26, 2026
Time: 1:10 PM ET
Venue: Comerica Park in Detroit, MI
Projected Starting Pitchers: Kirby Yates vs. Justin Verlander
MLB Moneyline Odds: Pirates +100 | Tigers -119 (Bet Now!)
Today’s MLB Run Line Betting Odds: Pirates +1.5 | Tigers -1.5
MLB Baseball Gambling Total: O/U: 8
Here’s why I’m backing a Pittsburgh ML bet below in my Pirates Tigers free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
Pirates vs. Tigers Gameday
The Pittsburgh Pirates return to Comerica Park on Saturday looking to answer Detroit’s 8-7 win in the series opener. Pittsburgh is 81-79 and third in the NL Central, while the Tigers sit 75-85 and fourth in the AL Central.
Detroit built an 8-2 lead Friday before the Pirates scored five times over the final three innings. Spencer Torkelson finished a single shy of the cycle with a homer and three RBIs.
Detroit survived Friday, but Pittsburgh made sure the Tigers had to sweat through the ninth.
Rafael Flores Jr. hit a three-run homer for Pittsburgh, while Brandon Lowe also went deep. The loss snapped a four-game Pirates winning streak, although they’ve still won 14 of their last 21.
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Saturday brings an unusual pitching matchup. Pittsburgh will use 39-year-old reliever Kirby Yates as an opener, while Justin Verlander makes the final start of his career at Comerica Park.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Odds & Last 5
Detroit is a slight home favorite around -116, with Pittsburgh near even money. The total is 8.5.
The season series is tied 2-2.
Pittsburgh won two of three when these teams met in August, while Detroit evened the season series Friday. The Pirates are 6-4 over their last 10 compared to 4-6 for the Tigers.
Saturday’s pitching plans make the number interesting.
Yates isn’t being asked to work like a traditional starter, while Verlander is making only his second start of 2026. The farewell ceremony will belong to Detroit; what happens after the first pitch is a different matter.
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Tigers Stats
Detroit is hitting .241 with a .320 on-base percentage this season. Torkelson has supplied 26 home runs, and he drove in three while finishing a single shy of the cycle Friday.
The Tigers have received much better work from their pitching staff.
Jackson Jobe gave Detroit 5.1 innings Friday, allowing two runs and striking out eight. The bullpen needed four relievers to finish the game and nearly surrendered a six-run lead.
That could matter with Verlander unlikely to provide traditional starter length Saturday.
Pirates Stats
Pittsburgh has won 14 of its last 21 despite Friday’s loss. Lowe leads the Pirates with 34 home runs, while Bryan Reynolds has 40 doubles and 17 homers.
The Pirates nearly stole the opener after falling behind 8-2.
They scored twice in the seventh, once in the eighth and twice in the ninth, with Flores delivering the biggest swing. That late push forced Detroit to use four relievers before finally closing the door.
Pittsburgh lost Friday, but a five-run late charge made Detroit’s bullpen earn every inch.
Yates carries a 3.32 ERA into his opener assignment. Pittsburgh used only three relievers Friday, giving Don Kelly some flexibility once Yates exits.
Pirates vs. Tigers Pitching Matchup
Yates gets the opening assignment at 2-5 with a 3.32 ERA and 48 strikeouts. The veteran right-hander is a reliever by trade, so Pittsburgh is approaching Saturday as a bullpen game rather than expecting six innings from him.
Verlander gets a considerably different kind of afternoon.
The 43-year-old will make the final start of his career after spending his first 13 seasons with Detroit and winning two AL Cy Young Awards and an MVP in a Tigers uniform.
His only previous start this season came September 16 against Kansas City. Verlander allowed five runs over 3.2 innings and enters Saturday 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA.
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One start is a tiny sample, but his limited workload matters here.
Yates gives Pittsburgh the cleaner current numbers, while Verlander brings the moment, the crowd and one of the best résumés of his generation.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers bottom line: Verlander’s farewell will own the afternoon emotionally, but Pittsburgh’s recent form and flexible pitching plan give the Pirates plenty of reasons to spoil the party.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Baseball Betting Trends
- The Tigers are 2-3 straight-up in their last five games.
- Additionally, the Tigers have covered the run line in 2 of their last 5 games.
- The total has gone under in 3 of the Tigers’ last 5 games.
- The Pirates are 3-2 straight-up in their last five games.
- Also, the Pirates have failed to cover the run line in 3 of their last 5 games.
- The total has gone under in 3 of the Pirates’ last 5 games.
Pirates Tigers Free Pick: Pirates ML +100
Here is my Pirates Tigers free pick: I’m taking the Pirates ML +100. Pittsburgh has won six of its last 10, and I like the way this pitching setup favors the deeper side once the nostalgia wears off.
Justin Verlander gets one final start at Comerica Park, which is a great baseball story. It’s also only his second start of the season after allowing five runs in 3.2 innings in his return, so I’m not pricing the résumé from 2011 into Saturday’s number.
Verlander deserves the ovation, but Pittsburgh doesn’t have to participate in the retirement party.
Kirby Yates is opening for Pittsburgh rather than being asked to work like a traditional starter. That gives the Pirates flexibility with their bullpen after Detroit needed four relievers to survive Friday’s 8-7 game.
The Pirates have also won 14 of their last 21 and already took two of three from Detroit in August. At even money, I’ll back the hotter club against a sentimental favorite with plenty of pitching uncertainty behind the storyline.
Take the Pirates ML +100.
Today’s MLB Free Pick
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Detroit Tigers on X
Celebrating 35. 💙 pic.twitter.com/EhN6o27MWF
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 25, 2026
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