Perhaps with nothing at stake here from a postseason perspective and yesterday's affairs put in the rear view, this game is vastly inconsequential. So instead of searching for some motivational angle in Game 162, I'm going to make this about the man I trust most on the hill -- Jared Jones.
Jones has been absolutely stellar in September. The Pittsburgh right-hander enters this finale 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA and microscopic 0.64 WHIP this month while punching out 35 hitters well over a strikeout per frame. To put it plainly, I'm buying what he's selling. Detroit counters with River Ryan, who has all of three MLB innings under his belt this season. Ryan certainly has talent, but this isn't the same assignment. Detroit isn't likely to ask the greenhorn to work particularly deep in the final game of a lost season, which means we could see a medley of Tigers relievers getting their final work of 2026. Jones offers Pittsburgh considerably more certainty and he can do go deep into the game while truly mitigating the Tigers bats. Double J has big-league experience, he's missing bats at an absurd rate and he's demonstrated that he can work deep enough to minimize Pittsburgh's bullpen exposure. In an otherwise characterized inconsequential finale, I'll simplify the handicap. Give me the established starter pitching his best baseball of the season against an inexperienced counterpart likely working a shorter assignment.
Finally, let me touch on other issue. There is a definitely a hangover in Comerica Park yesterday after the emotional send-off of Justin Verlander and the ninth-inning rally that saw the Tigers escape with a 4-3 win. Put that together with the pitching mismatch and the confluence of factors should enable Pittsburgh to close out their campaign with a win at margin. Yesterday was when the Tigers took their bow.
Pirates vs Tigers prediction: Pittsburgh Pirates -1.5 (+138) available at time of publishing. Playable to +125.
