Tigers at Pirates (Game 1)
The Pittsburgh Pirates totaled five runs while getting swept in a four-game series at Philadelphia over the weekend and are losers of six of their last seven. The Pirates got an unexpected extra day off due to the weather on Tuesday and will try to turn things around when they host the Detroit Tigers in a straight doubleheader on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh scored two or fewer runs in each of its last six losses and wasted a strong pitching effort in a 3-2 loss in 11 innings on Sunday. "It falls in our lap," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told reporters. "We had opportunities. We had them throughout the game. We had a rough week. We need to take a day off and figure it out and show up ready to play at home." The Tigers are winners of five of their last seven but suffered a bit of a letdown when they missed out on a chance to win a four-game series by falling to the Kansas City Royals on Sunday. The Tigers were swept in a three-game series at home against Pittsburgh to begin the season.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 7.71 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (2-1, 2.86)
Zimmermann picked up his first win of the season against Baltimore on Thursday, when he allowed four runs and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings but received 13 runs of support from his offense. The Wisconsin native surrendered at least four runs in each of his three starts - not counting an outing at Cleveland on April 11 when he left in the first inning after getting hit by a comebacker. Zimmermann struck out eight but was charged with four runs over six innings in a no decision against the Pirates on March 30.
Taillon's great start to the season came to an end on Thursday, when he was ripped for five runs on four hits and two walks over 1 2/3 innings at Philadelphia. The Florida native surrendered a total of five hits over 15 scoreless innings in his previous two appearances. Taillon is making his first career appearance against Detroit and is 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA in seven career interleague starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Tigers designated RHP Drew VerHagen for assignment on Monday.
2. Pirates RF Gregory Polanco is 4-for-34 over the last nine games.
3. Pittsburgh RHP Kyle Crick has yet to allow a run in five appearances, covering 4 2/3 innings.