The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Detroit Tigers on August 17, 2026. First pitch from PNC Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
The Pirates are favored by -106 on the moneyline and by 8.5 on the run line. The Tigers are -102 on the moneyline and -1.5 on the run line. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Find my MLB picks and Tigers vs Pirates prediction below, as well as probable pitchers, weather report, and more.
Tigers vs Pirates Prediction
- Tigers vs Pirates Pick: Detroit Tigers Moneyline (-102)
My Tigers vs Pirates best bet is Detroit Tigers Moneyline. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Tigers vs Pirates Odds
| Tigers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +146 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -102 |
| Pirates Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -178 | 8.5 -110o / -110u | -106 |
- Tigers vs Pirates moneyline: Tigers -102, Pirates -106
- Tigers vs Pirates over/under: 8.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Tigers vs Pirates spread: Tigers -1.5 (+146), Pirates +1.5 (-178)
Tigers vs Pirates Probable Pitchers
| Framber Valdez (LHP, DET) | Stat | Carmen Mlodzinski (RHP, PIT) |
|---|---|---|
| 7-8 | W-L | 6-5 |
| 1.4 | fWAR (FanGraphs) | 1.4 |
| 4.26 / 4.41 | ERA / xERA | 3.79 / 5.14 |
| 4.18 / 4.21 | FIP / xFIP | 3.67 / 4.41 |
| 9.5% | K-BB% | 9.9% |
| 54.1% | GB% | 40.3% |
| .301 | BABIP | .313 |
| 102 | Stuff+ | 92 |
| 97 | Location+ | 105 |
Tigers vs Pirates MLB Betting Preview
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The Tigers have lost three straight games, but have won 10 of their past 16. Unfortunately, Detroit is much closer to fourth in the AL Central (1/2 game back) than to first (5 1/2 games back).
The team that sold 2025 AL Cy Young Winner Tarik Skubal is somehow still in the mix for a playoff spot regardless of the division crown. The Tigers sit one game behind the 61-63 Orioles for the final Wild Card spot.
Winning will not be easy in the coming games without star OF Riley Greene, but he is rehabbing and expected back soon. Luckily, the addition of top prospect Max Clark has helped the team in the past two weeks, along with the return of former top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe.
Nevertheless, the biggest surprise for Detroit has been backup catcher Eduardo Valencia. The 26-year-old rookie has six HR in his first 19 MLB games, with six doubles as well.
Valencia's offensive surge has helped the Tigers stay afloat in recent weeks and could aid their pursuit of a playoff spot, even with his 246 wRC+ likely to drop soon enough.
Pittsburgh Pirates Betting Preview
The Pirates are stuck in no-man's land. They are 16 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers and 6 1/2 games back from the final NL Wild Card spot.
The Pirates started the 2026 season on a torrid pace, but after losing Oneil Cruz, Ryan O'Hearn, and Konnor Griffin to injuries, the offense and winning stagnated.
Cruz has just been activated from the Injured List, but we should not expect the team to start winning games often again.
The pitching staff that came into the season as one of the league's best is closer to mediocre now, with ace Paul Skenes struggling to regain his elite velocity.
The Pirates are like a leaky ship. They plugged one hole recently (their bullpen at the deadline), yet found another. 2027 will likely be much kinder to this talented roster at full strength and superstar Konnor Griffin another year older.
Tigers vs Pirates Pick, Betting Analysis
Framber Valdez has had a poor first season in Detroit. His 4.26 ERA and 1.39 WHIP are his worst as a full-time starter, while there are no signs of positive regression from any of his peripheral metrics.
Valdez has pitched somewhat better in August, with a 2.75 ERA backed by a 3.80 xFIP, but this comes with a putrid 5.03 xERA.
He is not the pitcher he once was, but he is at least pitching better on the road.
- Valdez on road: 10.7% K-BB, 3.58 FIP, 4.02 xFIP
- Valdez at home: 8.2% K-BB, 4.89 FIP, 4.43 xFIP
He will be facing Pirates' SP Carmen Mlodzinski, who has been fairly lucky this season. Mlodzinski's 3.79 ERA is backed by a 5.14 xERA, 4.41 xFIP, and 4.42 SIERA.
Also, Mlodzinski is worse at home than on the road and will be facing a Tigers offense that ranks fifth against RHP this season (107 wRC+). Furthermore, the Tigers' offense ranks second-best in the past 30 days (119 wRC+).
This is much better than the Pirates, who rank 24th in the past month (83 wRC+). Pittsburgh also ranks 25th against LHP (90 wRC+), giving Detroit the advantage overall today.
Pick: Detroit Tigers Moneyline (-102)
