The Detroit Tigers (60-64) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (61-65) open a three-game interleague series at PNC Park in Pittsburgh at 7:05 p.m. ET on ESPN.
We’ll get a matchup of Tigers LHP Framber Valdez (7-8, 4.26 ERA, 1.39 WHIP) against Pirates RHP Carmen Mlodzinski (6-5, 3.79 ERA, 1.40 WHIP), and it could be a surprising pitcher’s duel, even though, at first glance, it might not appear to be so.
The southpaw Valdez has managed a 3-3 record, 4.82 ERA and 1.53 WHIP across his past seven starts, with walks getting him into a bit of trouble. He has issued 16 free passes in just 37 ⅓ IP in the seven-game span, so that’s something he needs to chop down immediately.
For Mlodzinski, the Hilton Head Island, S.C. native has managed an 0-2 mark with a 6.16 ERA across his past two starts and seven appearances, posting a 1.58 WHIP in the 19-inning span.
The Tigers looked to be piecing things together nicely after the non-waiver trade deadline, despite the fact they appeared to be waiving the white towel by shipping LHP Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and RHP Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres. However, the young Tigers have rallied around each other, and they’re right in the logjam for the final wild-card spot in the American League Central.
However, while Detroit had been playing well, it suffered a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox over the weekend, so all is not well.
The Pirates took two of three games in their most recent interleague series at PNC Park against the Boston Red Sox, including an 8-3 victory on Sunday at even-money as the Over (8) cashed. The Bucs have won three of the past four games, scoring at least eight runs in each of the victories, while the Over is 4-1 in the past five outings, while going 6-2-1 across the previous nine contests.
The Pirates have won seven of the past 11 tries against American League teams, and Pittsburgh is an impressive 21-12 vs. AL this season.
While the Tigers are 4-2 in the past six outings against National League squads, it is just 16-17
in interleague play in 2026.
While all of those facts above seem to point toward a Pittsburgh play, there is one reason to avoid the Pirates. Pittsburgh is just 12-26 vs. LHP this season, and Detroit is 44-41 vs. RHP in 2026. The Pirates have the third-worst record in the majors against southpaws.
The best play here is to take the OVER 8 (-110), based on the recent trends for both sides. And, based on Pittsburgh’s immense struggles against southpaws, let’s back the TIGERS (-118) lightly on the moneyline, but only with a half-unit play.
