Opinion
3 min read

Can the Pirates' Resilience Outshine the Tigers at Comerica Park?

The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to face off against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on May 29, and fans are eagerly anticipating a thrilling contest. The Pirates have shown flashes of brilliance in recent games, but their inconsistency has been a cause for concern. However, there is reason to believe that Pittsburgh can turn things around against Detroit.


Apr 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Detroit Tigers left fielder Riley Greene (31) hits a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

In their most recent game on May 23 against the San Francisco Giants, the Pirates narrowly lost 7-6 despite putting up a strong fight. Their hitting statistics were commendable with an average of .250 and an OPS of .891. The team managed to score six runs with three home runs, showcasing their power-hitting potential. However, they left 18 runners on base and had only one hit with runners in scoring position out of nine attempts. This inefficiency in clutch situations has been a recurring issue for Pittsburgh.


On the pitching front, the Pirates' bullpen struggled significantly in that game, allowing six earned runs over just three innings pitched by relievers. The overall ERA stood at 7.0 for that match-up which highlights some vulnerabilities that need addressing before facing Detroit’s lineup.


Apr 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Detroit Tigers center fielder Matt Vierling (8) runs from first base to third base against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Contrastingly, when looking back at another close encounter on May 22 where they lost to San Francisco again but this time by a scoreline of 9-5 after extra innings (10th inning), it becomes evident that while their offense can be potent – scoring five runs in one inning – maintaining consistency throughout all innings remains elusive.


The Tigers have also had their share of struggles recently but come into this game with home-field advantage which could play into their favor given Comerica Park's dimensions favoring pitchers slightly more than hitters compared to other ballparks across MLB venues.


Apr 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Detroit Tigers second baseman Colt Keith (33) takes ground balls before a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit’s pitching staff will likely focus on exploiting Pittsburgh’s weaknesses seen during high-pressure moments; however if key players from PIT like Bryan Reynolds or Ke’Bryan Hayes step up early-on setting tone offensively then momentum could easily shift towards visitors making it difficult task ahead defensively speaking too!


For fans tuning into SportsNet PT at scheduled time (5:10 PM ET), expect intense battle between these two teams vying hard not just win single match-up but gain psychological edge moving forward within season-long campaign filled ups downs alike!

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