Tigers at Pirates
After splitting a doubleheader, the visiting Detroit Tigers and the Pittsburgh Pirates play the rubber match of a three-game interleague series Thursday at PNC Park. The Pirates are trying to avoid their third straight series loss.
Detroit’s offense stayed hot in a 13-10 win in Game 1 of Wednesday’s twinbill - the Tigers’ third time scoring in double digits in the past seven contests - but the Pirates cooled off Detroit’s lineup in an 8-3 win in the nightcap. Pittsburgh had totaled just five runs during a four-game skid before putting up 18 runs in the doubleheader. Both teams will look for deep outings from their starters in the finale, as Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer and veteran Ivan Nova of the Pirates look to give taxed bullpens a break. Detroit used 10 relievers Wednesday while Pittsburgh used seven.
TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.47 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (2-1, 4.20)
Fulmer bounced back from a disastrous outing at Cleveland with a quality start Friday against Kansas City. The 25-year-old held the Royals to two runs and eight hits over seven innings while matching his season-high with four strikeouts. Fulmer shut down the Pirates on April 1, allowing one run and four hits over eight innings in a 1-0 loss.
Nova has posted three straight quality starts but was denied his third consecutive win Friday at Philadelphia because of poor run support. The 31-year-old held the Phillies to one run and five hits over six innings but didn’t get a decision in the 2-1 loss. Nova is 0-3 with a 6.56 ERA in seven games (six starts) against the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pittsburgh C Francisco Cervelli had six RBIs in Game 1 on Wednesday and boasts 18 in 19 games. His career high is 43 in 2015.
2. Tigers C James McCann is 10-for-28 with two homers during a seven-game hitting streak.
3. Pirates OF Jose Osuna was added as the team’s 26th man for the doubleheader and hit a three-run homer in his first big-league at-bat of the season in Game 2, but he will likely be sent back to Triple-A Indianapolis.