The Detroit Tigers close out their regular season home schedule on Sunday, September 27, hosting the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park for a 3:10 PM ET first pitch. River Ryan gets the ball for Detroit, squaring off against Pittsburgh right-hander Jared Jones. With the calendar winding down on the 2026 regular season, every game carries weight — whether the Tigers are playing for positioning, pride, or something bigger in the standings. This is a chance for Detroit to finish strong in front of the home crowd before the regular season closes out.
Probable Starting Pitchers: River Ryan vs. Jared Jones
River Ryan draws the start for the Tigers in what figures to be a meaningful late-September assignment. Ryan has worked his way into Detroit's rotation picture this season, and a strong outing on Sunday would be a fitting way to cap the home slate at Comerica Park. The right stuff to get through a Pirates lineup that has shown it can put runs on the board is the assignment in front of him.
On the other side, Pittsburgh sends Jared Jones to the mound. Jones is a legitimate arm with the stuff to keep any lineup honest. Detroit's hitters will need to be disciplined and make him work deep into counts if they want to crack him open. Jones is not the kind of pitcher you can sleepwalk against — he demands attention from the first inning.
Keys to Watch on Sunday
- Ryan's command early: If Ryan can establish his fastball and keep Pittsburgh's hitters off-balance in the first two innings, Detroit has a real shot to control the tempo of this game from the dugout out.
- Offensive patience against Jones: Jones can be electric, but working the count and getting into the Pittsburgh bullpen early is the blueprint for a Tigers win. Avoid the free swings.
- Bullpen availability: With the regular season winding down, how Scott Harris and the coaching staff deploy the relief corps could tell you something about where this organization's head is at entering the offseason.
- Home crowd energy: Comerica Park late in September can be electric when the Tigers give fans something to cheer about. A strong start by Ryan would set the tone fast.
Broadcast Information
Sunday's game can be seen on Detroit SportsNet locally and SportsNet Pittsburgh for Pirates fans. Radio coverage is available on WXYT 97.1 FM in Detroit and Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan in Pittsburgh. Spanish-language radio coverage is on LaZ WDTW 1310AM/107.9FM.
Prediction
This is a winnable game for Detroit at home. Ryan has the opportunity to deliver a quality start on a stage that matters, and the Tigers have enough in the lineup to make Jones work. Pittsburgh is a professional club that won't roll over, but Comerica Park on a late-September Sunday afternoon is Tigers territory. Detroit takes this one, 4-2, with Ryan going six innings and the bullpen finishing the job cleanly.
