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(MLB) Pittsburgh vs. Detroit,
Money Line: -153.00 Pittsburgh (Away)
Result: Win
Money Line: -153.00 Pittsburgh (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The Tigers managed just three runs in two losses at Pittsburgh (Monday and Tuesday) against the Pirates but pounded out 14 hits in Wednesday 10-0 win at Comerica Park last night. Justin Verlander rolled back the clock (8 IP / 1 hit / 0 runs) and now Detroit will look to earn a sweep of the home portion of its four-game, home-and-home interleague set with Pittsburgh on Thursday afternoon. The 52-61 Tigers aren't much of a threat to play this postseason, as they sit six games out of the final wild card spot in the AL, with EIGHT teams ahead of them. As for the 56-58 Pirates, they still remain in striking distance in the NL Central, a mere 3 1/2 games back of the Cubs.
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (9-8 & 4.00 ERA) will take the hill for Pittsburgh and Drew VerHagen (0-1 & 5.00 ERA) for Detroit. Cole turned in his sixth straight quality start this past Saturday against San Diego but suffered his first loss in that span while allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings of a 5-2 Padres win. The former No. 1 overall pick had surrendered a total of eight ER in 32 innings over his previous five starts (2.25 ERA with Cole going 3-0 and Pittsburgh 5-0). Cole is 8-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 16 career interleague starts, including 1-1 with a 2.41 mark in three starts against Detroit (Pirates are 2-1). VerHagen, who made 40 relief appearances from 2014-2016, is getting a second chance to start after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings without factoring in the decision at Baltimore on Saturday (Orioles won 5-2). He made two appearances out of the bullpen after being recalled in July and surrendered a total of three runs in four innings in that role. VerHagen went 7-7 with a 4.90 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Toledo before being recalled.
The pick: Cole will be making his 24th start this season, three more than he had during his injury-marred 2016 campaign."It's been nice to be healthy and contribute," Cole said. "That's our goal here, so it's been fortunate to be given this opportunity. I've just got to keep plugging away at it." One could easily argue that he's become Pittsburgh's ace, as he's 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA over his last 10 starts (Pirates are 8-2). Cole and Pittsburgh are the bet (8*).
The pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole (9-8 & 4.00 ERA) will take the hill for Pittsburgh and Drew VerHagen (0-1 & 5.00 ERA) for Detroit. Cole turned in his sixth straight quality start this past Saturday against San Diego but suffered his first loss in that span while allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings of a 5-2 Padres win. The former No. 1 overall pick had surrendered a total of eight ER in 32 innings over his previous five starts (2.25 ERA with Cole going 3-0 and Pittsburgh 5-0). Cole is 8-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 16 career interleague starts, including 1-1 with a 2.41 mark in three starts against Detroit (Pirates are 2-1). VerHagen, who made 40 relief appearances from 2014-2016, is getting a second chance to start after allowing two runs on four hits in five innings without factoring in the decision at Baltimore on Saturday (Orioles won 5-2). He made two appearances out of the bullpen after being recalled in July and surrendered a total of three runs in four innings in that role. VerHagen went 7-7 with a 4.90 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Toledo before being recalled.
The pick: Cole will be making his 24th start this season, three more than he had during his injury-marred 2016 campaign."It's been nice to be healthy and contribute," Cole said. "That's our goal here, so it's been fortunate to be given this opportunity. I've just got to keep plugging away at it." One could easily argue that he's become Pittsburgh's ace, as he's 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA over his last 10 starts (Pirates are 8-2). Cole and Pittsburgh are the bet (8*).
