Pirates Preview: Can Bucs Sweep Tigers Out of Town?

Danny Demilio |

Jul 23, 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates notched their second-straight win over the Detroit Tigers with an 8-5 victory on Tuesday night.

Mitch Keller earned his third-straight win while Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Tommy Pham combined for nine hits and six RBI.

The Pirates (41-61) will go for their fourth sweep of the season in the series finale against the Tigers (60-42) on Wednesday afternoon.

First pitch is set for 12:35 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 100.1FM & AM 1020.

Weather

Sunny skies with temperatures creeping up to the high-80s. Winds S at 3-5 mph.

LHP Bailey Falter (6-5, 4.00 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Falter toed the rubber in the Pirates’ first game after the All-Star break on Friday and allowed four runs in four innings against the Chicago White Sox.

In eight starts since the beginning of June, Falter has struggled to a 5.60 ERA (22er/35.1ip) and has allowed 10 home runs during that stretch.

Through his first 12 starts of the season, Falter had a 3.14 ERA, including a stretch in May where he only allowed three runs in 35.2 innings.

Falter allowed three runs in five innings against the Tigers on June 17. That was his first time facing Detroit.

RHP Troy Melton (Major League Debut) Will Start for the Tigers

Melton, who was a fourth-round draft pick in 2022, is considered Detroit’s 10th-best prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

The 24-year-old began the season with Double-A Erie, where he went 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA in 10 starts. In eight appearances/six starts since he was promoted to Triple-A Toledo, Melton posted a 2.72 ERA and punched out 56 batters in 36.1 innings.

In his minor-league career, Melton is 12-12 with a 3.63 ERA and 10.4 strikeouts per nine innings in parts of four seasons.

The right-hander has a five pitch mix, which includes a fastball, curveball, slider, changeup and cutter.

Tigers Hitters vs. Falter

Gleyber Torres: 2 for 4, two doubles, one walk, one strikeout
Javier Báez: 3 for 3, two home runs, three RBI
Zach McKinstry: 1 for 3, one strikeout
Jahmai Jones: 0 for 3, one strikeout
Wenceel Pérez: 1 for 2, one home run, two RBI

Pirates Hitters vs. Melton

Tidbits

Spencer Horwitz, Tommy Pham and Oneil Cruz each had two doubles apiece int he win. It was the first time the Pirates had three players hit two doubles in the same game since Aug. 24, 2002 against the Milwaukee Brewers, when Brian Giles, Abraham Núñez and Pokey Reese did so.
Mitch Keller delivered his 15th quality start of the season, which is tied with Zack Wheeler (Phillies) and Logan Webb (Giants) for the most in baseball. Keller had 15 quality starts all last season.
The Pirates are now 13-3 in the last 16 games when Bryan Reynolds drives in at least one run. Reynolds has hit safely in six of his last seven games and is batting .400 (10 for 25) during that stretch.