Our Pirates vs. Tigers prediction begins with a farewell at Comerica Park. Justin Verlander makes the final start of his career on Saturday, and Pittsburgh needs one more win to secure its first winning season since 2018. The market calls it close to even, with Detroit a slight moneyline favorite and the total set at 8.5. However, a 43-year-old arm with almost no recent game work changes how this game should be read. Our two picks follow the pitching breakdown below.
Last Updated: September 26, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers — Game Info
| Where | Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan |
| When | September 26 – 1:10 PM ET |
| TV | SportsNet Pittsburgh, Detroit SportsNet |
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The pitching matchup is unusual on both sides. Verlander has made only one big-league start this season, on March 30 at Arizona. He allowed six runs, five of them earned, in 3 2/3 innings before hip and hamstring injuries sent him to the injured list. He has not pitched in a game since a Triple-A rehab start in June. Detroit has confirmed this is the final start of his career, the 557th of a run that includes more than 260 wins and 3,500 strikeouts.
The Tigers have not announced a pitch count or innings limit for Saturday. As a result, Detroit’s bullpen could carry a large share of the innings. That group had Thursday off, which helps. Still, Andrew Sears threw 41 pitches in relief on Friday, and closer Kenley Jansen pitched on both Wednesday and Friday.
Pittsburgh answers with a bullpen game. Kirby Yates has not started any of his 45 appearances this season. He carries a 3.32 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings. Yates returned from a right shoulder impingement on September 22 and threw a scoreless inning the next day. Behind him, the Pirates used four pitchers on Friday, including Wilber Dotel for three innings. Their leverage relievers, Luke Weaver, Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery, each pitched Thursday and sat out Friday.
Both clubs are eliminated from postseason contention. Pittsburgh sits third in the NL Central at 81-79 and is 6-4 over its last 10 games. Detroit is fourth in the AL Central at 75-85 and 4-6 over its last 10. The records undersell the Tigers, though. Detroit has outscored its opponents 717-645, while Pittsburgh’s margin is a slimmer 760-733. Meanwhile, Comerica Park has played close to neutral for runs on a multi-year basis.
Detroit won Friday’s opener 8-7, a game we previewed in our Friday Pirates vs. Tigers breakdown. That result evened the season series at 2-2. Spencer Torkelson finished a single short of the cycle and hit his 26th home run. Riley Greene has added 21 home runs for Detroit. For Pittsburgh, Rafael Flores Jr. hit a three-run homer in the eighth as the Pirates nearly erased an 8-2 deficit. Brandon Lowe leads the Pirates with 34 home runs, and Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds both carry on-base percentages above .360. This is a day game after a night game, and neither lineup had been posted at the time of writing.
The market has been quiet so far. Every full-game number sits exactly where it opened early Saturday morning, including the 8.5 total. Public bettors lean modestly toward Detroit, with 54% of run line bets on the Tigers. Without any line movement behind it, that split carries little signal on its own.
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers Odds
| Run Line | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pirates | -1.5 (+170) | -105 | O 8.5 (-105) |
| Tigers | +1.5 (-200) | -115 | U 8.5 (-115) |
Odds accurate as of September 26, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest MLB Odds – Futures – Props
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Detroit Tigers — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Pirates | 46% | 54% | Tigers |
See the latest MLB Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Pirates vs. Tigers Prediction — A Coin-Flip Price for Verlander’s Farewell
Verlander’s layoff is the biggest single input in this game. He has not faced hitters in a game since June, and his lone big-league start this season ended before he finished the fourth inning. A pitcher with his résumé can still win on command and adrenaline. Even so, Pittsburgh’s lineup has the on-base skills to make a rusty arm work, led by Cruz and Reynolds.
The Pirates also have something left to play for. One more win gives them their first winning season since 2018. Their Thursday win over St. Louis, covered in our Cardinals vs. Pirates preview, already assured them of at least a .500 finish. In addition, bullpen games have mostly worked for this staff. Through early September, Pittsburgh had allowed 2.6 runs per game in bullpen games, compared with 4.8 in all other games.
The case for Detroit is real, however. The Tigers’ run differential is far better than their record, their bullpen is fresher, and Pittsburgh is 37-42 on the road. The Pirates’ recent bullpen games have also slipped, going 1-2 with 13 runs allowed in the last three that Lake Bachar opened. The market offers no confirmation either way, because the price has not moved since it opened Saturday morning. That makes this a lean built on Verlander’s rust rather than a strong play.
The Pick: Pirates Moneyline (-105)
Pirates vs. Tigers Prediction — Verlander’s First Game Action Since June
The opening frame is where Verlander’s layoff should show up first. He has no recent game rhythm, and in his only big-league start this season he allowed two runs in the first inning. That is one outing, so it proves little on its own. Pittsburgh’s own profile does more of the work.
According to MLB’s official box scores, the Pirates have scored in the first inning in 49 of their 160 games, or 30.6 percent. The rate holds on the road, where they have scored in the opening frame in 24 of 79 games. The current price implies a lower chance than that season rate, before any adjustment for Verlander’s rust. On the other side, Detroit’s staff has allowed a first-inning run in only 41 of its 160 games. Verlander may also simply summon one more sharp inning. Note that this read rests on the same Verlander input as our first pick, so the two plays are not independent.
The Pick: Pittsburgh Pirates To Score, 1st Inning — Yes (+250)
Our Final Word on Pirates vs. Tigers
Verlander’s farewell will make this an emotional afternoon in Detroit. Pittsburgh, meanwhile, still has a milestone to chase in the final weekend. The handicap comes back to one question, which is how sharp a 43-year-old can be after months away from game action.
The Pirates Moneyline at -105 is our top play, since Verlander has not pitched in a game since June. Pittsburgh Pirates To Score, 1st Inning — Yes at +250 is our second play, because Pittsburgh’s first-inning scoring rate tops what that price implies.
MLB Pirates vs. Tigers FAQ: September 26, 2026
What time does the Pirates vs. Tigers game start?
The Pirates vs. Tigers game starts at 1:10 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Comerica Park in Detroit. It is the second game of a three-game series that closes the regular season for both clubs, with the finale set for Sunday.
What channel is the Pirates vs. Tigers game on?
The Pirates vs. Tigers game airs on regional television, with SportsNet Pittsburgh carrying the Pirates’ broadcast and Detroit SportsNet carrying the Tigers’ broadcast in their home markets. Radio listeners in Detroit can follow Verlander’s final start on 97.1 The Ticket.
Who is pitching for the Tigers today?
Justin Verlander starts for the Tigers in what Detroit has confirmed is the final start of his career. The 43-year-old has made one big-league start this season after hip and hamstring injuries. Pittsburgh counters with reliever Kirby Yates opening a bullpen game.
What is the season series record between the Pirates and Tigers?
The season series is tied 2-2. Pittsburgh won two of three at PNC Park in August, and Detroit took Friday’s series opener 8-7 at Comerica Park. Saturday’s game and Sunday’s finale, the last two games of the regular season, decide which club wins the 2026 season series.
Where do the Pirates and Tigers stand in their divisions?
Pittsburgh is third in the NL Central at 81-79, and Detroit is fourth in the AL Central at 75-85. Both teams have been eliminated from postseason contention. The Pirates need one more win to secure their first winning season since 2018.