The Pittsburgh Pirates enter their June 17, 2025 matchup against the Detroit Tigers in search of answers and momentum amid what has become another frustrating and underwhelming season, as their 29–44 record places them near the basement of the National League Central. Their road struggles have been a significant contributing factor to their record, with the Pirates going just 10–25 away from PNC Park, a mark that underscores both offensive inconsistency and pitching volatility when removed from their home environment. Offensively, the team has struggled to generate consistent run support, with Oneil Cruz leading the team in home runs (13) but slashing just .223, exposing a high-risk, high-reward element to his at-bats that often leaves the lineup straining for timely hits. While Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen have offered flashes of veteran leadership and production, the supporting cast has yet to emerge, leading to long stretches of quiet innings and an overall run differential that remains heavily in the red. The team ranks among the league’s worst in team batting average and slugging percentage, and they often fail to capitalize on scoring opportunities, batting poorly with runners in scoring position. On the pitching side, Bailey Falter has quietly been a bright spot, carrying a respectable 5–3 record with a 3.36 ERA across 75 innings, showing an ability to limit damage even when the defense behind him falters.

However, Falter’s outings are often unsupported by run production, and the Pirates bullpen has routinely squandered late-inning chances to secure wins, with few dependable arms available for manager Derek Shelton to call upon in high-leverage situations. Defensively, the Pirates have been average at best, often unable to make the key play needed to keep innings clean, and this only exacerbates their issues when paired with an inconsistent pitching staff and a struggling offense. From a betting standpoint, Pittsburgh’s 32–39 record against the spread (ATS) reflects the uncertainty of their performances, as they’ve failed to deliver covers in games where the margin for error is slim. Against a Tigers team that has been dominant at home and possesses one of the more consistent offensive attacks in the league, the Pirates will need nearly every aspect of their game to click just to stay competitive. The key for Pittsburgh will be jumping out to an early lead and hoping that Falter can keep Detroit’s lineup in check long enough to avoid overtaxing their bullpen, which has been one of the weakest links in their season. If Cruz or Reynolds can provide a spark with early extra-base hits, and if the defense can avoid giving away extra outs, Pittsburgh could keep the game closer than expected, but anything short of near-flawless execution may result in another road defeat. With their season teetering on the brink of irrelevance, the Pirates must begin stringing together strong performances now, and this game against a high-performing Detroit team offers both a formidable challenge and a potential turning point, if only they can rise to the occasion.