The Detroit Tigers close out another home date at Comerica Park on Friday, September 25, when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 6:40 PM ET first pitch. Jackson Jobe gets the ball for Detroit against Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler in what shapes up as an intriguing matchup of young arms. With the regular season winding down, every game at Comerica carries real weight for a Tigers roster looking to finish strong in front of the home crowd.
Probable Starters: Jackson Jobe vs. Bubba Chandler
Jackson Jobe draws the start for the Tigers, and this is the kind of assignment that tells you something about where Detroit's front office sees this kid's ceiling. Jobe has been one of the more closely watched young starters in the organization, and a late-September home start is his stage to make a statement heading into the offseason.
On the other side, Pittsburgh sends Bubba Chandler to the mound. Chandler is another young arm worth tracking — the Pirates have been building around pitching prospects, and Chandler fits that profile. Neither pitcher comes into this preview with ERA or record data available, so we'll let Friday's results do the talking.
Keys to Watch in Detroit vs. Pittsburgh
- Jobe's command and durability: How deep Jobe can pitch into this game matters. If he's locating his fastball and keeping Pittsburgh's lineup off-balance through five or six innings, that's a good sign for Detroit's rotation picture going forward.
- Chandler's stuff against a Tigers lineup: Pittsburgh's starter is young and unproven at the major league level in terms of verified track record here. Detroit's hitters need to be patient early, work counts, and make Chandler earn every out.
- Bullpen management: Late September means rosters are expanded and managers have options. How both benches deploy their relievers in a potentially close game could decide this one.
- Comerica Park atmosphere: A Friday night home game in September — Tigers fans show up for this. The crowd energy at Comerica can be a genuine factor, especially if Detroit gets runners on base early and puts pressure on a road starter.
Prediction
This is a game that hinges on which young starter settles in faster. Jobe pitching at home, in front of a Friday night crowd at Comerica, gets the edge here. Detroit has the home-field advantage and the motivation that comes with wrapping up a regular season on a high note. Tigers win, 4-2.
Catch the game on Detroit SportsNet on TV or WXYT 97.1 FM on the radio. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM ET.
