Pirates vs Tigers Game 1 Prediction & Best Bets (5/29): Will Skubal Spin Another Gem?

Due to bad weather, yesterday’s game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers was postponed, leading to two games scheduled for today. Paul Skenes will be pitching in the second game, while the opener will feature Tarik Skubal, a top contender for the AL Cy Young Award.

The Tigers (26-27), who previously lost 14 out of 19 games, secured a crucial series victory over the weekend by winning three out of four games against the Toronto Blue Jays at their home ground. If they manage to sweep today’s doubleheader, they will once again surpass the .500 winning percentage.

After a victorious weekend series at home against the Atlanta Braves, the Pirates (25-29) continue to thrive. Despite their previous slump that saw them drop to a season-low six games below .500, Pittsburgh has managed to secure victories in six out of their last ten games.

Instead of a highly anticipated Skenes-Skubal duel, the Pirates have opted to hold off on Skenes and instead assign the talented rookie, Jared Jones, to start the first game. This decision is bound to attract significant attention.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers Odds

Odds are via Bovada, a longtime fixture in the sports betting industry. Check out our Bovada sportsbook review, then grab yourself a nice sign-up bonus to bet on Major League Baseball.

Moneyline

• Pittsburgh Pirates +130
• Detroit Tigers -150

Over/Under

• Over 7 (+100)
• Under 7 (-120)

Run Line

• Pittsburgh Pirates +1.5 (-165)
• Detroit Tigers -1.5 (+145)

Looking for more baseball picks? Our MLB picks page features moneyline, total (over/under), and run line (spread) picks for every MLB game on the schedule each day.

Pitching Matchup for Pirates vs Tigers Game 1

• Jared Jones, a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, has made 10 starts and currently holds a record of 3 wins and 4 losses with an ERA of 3.05.
• Tarik Skubal, a left-handed pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, boasts an impressive record of 6 wins and 1 loss in 10 starts, with an outstanding ERA of 2.25.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers Betting Analysis

Skubal experienced his inaugural defeat of the season on the previous Wednesday, conceding four runs, six hits, and two walks within five innings during an 8-3 loss against Kansas City.

Skubal’s starts have boosted the Tigers’ record to 7-3 this season, with a remarkable 4-1 performance at home. Despite the Pirates’ stronger batting against left-handed pitchers, the forecast suggests that this afternoon’s game will further enhance the Tigers’ winning record.

Season Batting Splits for the Pittsburgh Pirates

• vs LHP: .238 BA
• vs RHP: .224 BA
• In 21 games against left-handed starting pitchers, the team has recorded a batting average of .237 and an average of 4.43 runs scored per game.
• In 33 games against right-handed starting pitchers, the team has recorded a batting average of .223 and an average of 3.67 runs per game.

Skubal is the leading candidate for AL Cy Young due to his consistently outstanding performances. Even on occasions when he has struggled, he has shown great resilience and quickly returned to form.

Before his most recent start, he had given up four runs in his last two starts of the season. However, in the next two starts that followed, he did not allow any runs. He only conceded five hits and two walks in a total of 11 innings.

While Skenes has gained considerable attention in Pittsburgh’s rotation, Jones is also making a strong case for NL Rookie of the Year. Notably, he has not surrendered more than three runs in any start and currently ranks among the top 20 in the MLB for quality starts, strikeouts, strikeouts per nine innings, and WHIP.

He has made four starts this month, recording a 1-1 record with a 2.88 ERA. Throughout these starts, he has given up a total of 21 hits, resulting in nine runs (eight of them earned). Additionally, he has walked five batters and struck out 26 opponents in 25 innings.

Pittsburgh Pirates vs Detroit Tigers Prediction & Best Bets

Pirates vs Tigers Prediction: Tigers to win

Pirates vs Tigers Best Bets: 1) Jared Jones over 6.5 strikeouts (-130 at Bovada), 2) Jared Jones over 17.5 total pitcher outs (-135 at Bovada)

Although I have a preference for Skubal and the Tigers, the odds are not favorable with the moneyline and the run line is not enticing for what could be a close game. Instead, I am redirecting my attention towards a couple of Jones’ prop bets. Jones has achieved seven or more strikeouts in seven starts, with four out of five road starts falling into this category. Additionally, he has not had fewer than seven strikeouts in consecutive starts. Furthermore, Jones has successfully pitched at least six innings in all four of his starts this month, and I anticipate this streak to continue against the Tigers.

More MLB Betting Information

How to Bet on Major League Baseball in 2024

Similar to the NFL, NBA, and NHL, Major League Baseball offers several betting options. The primary methods include moneyline and spread betting, along with over/under betting.

Futures bets (like Cy Young odds) and prop bets (like strikeout props and batting props) are also one of the most popular ways to bet on the action on the diamond.

Where to Bet on MLB

Many top online sportsbooks offer a wide variety of MLB odds throughout the season.

In addition to being able to make daily MLB picks on games from Opening Day until the final game of the Fall Classic, you can also bet on MLB MVP odds, Cy Young Award odds, and MLB Rookie of the Year odds, as well as World Series odds.

We highly recommend the following sportsbooks for betting on baseball, based on our extensive reviews and analysis:

• BetDSI (Review)
• BetOnline (Review)
• BetUS (Review)
• Bovada (Review)
• Everygame (Review)
• MyBookie (Review)

If you do not possess an account at a book on this list, refer to our reviews for assistance in deciding whether it is worthwhile to invest your interest and betting funds.

Interested in Learning More About Betting on Baseball?

If you’re new to betting on baseball or simply want to become more familiar with the various aspects of placing MLB bets, take a look at our comprehensive MLB betting guide.

• MLB Betting Guide: How to Bet on Baseball in 2024

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