Pittsburgh at Detroit

Detroit led Pittsburgh 8-2 through seven innings last night and held on 8-7 after the Pirates scored five in the eighth. The more useful detail is what that game cost Pittsburgh's staff. The Pirates needed seven and a third innings from relievers in Wednesday's loss to St. Louis and five and a third more last night, and today they open with Kirby Yates, a reliever just back from a shoulder injury. That's three bullpen-heavy games in four days for a pen that ranks 16th in ERA. Justin Verlander makes his farewell start for Detroit, his first big-league outing since March 30, and I don't expect him to go long either. Detroit's pen gave up that eighth inning, but it came in off a Thursday rest day, and only one reliever threw more than 15 pitches. Detroit is 75-85, six games worse than the Pirates, and Pittsburgh has the better offense. Both teams are eliminated, and this game comes down to fresh arms. Detroit's staff ERA ranks sixth in baseball and Pittsburgh's ranks 18th. I'm on the Tigers this afternoon.