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Verlander's Final Start: Tigers Favored Against Pirates
27 Sep
Summary
- Tigers are 52% favorites in Verlander's final career start.
- Detroit's offense ranks fourth in OPS and wOBA this month.
- Riley Greene is hitting .333 with five home runs in September.
Justin Verlander is set to make the final start of his distinguished career today, with predictions favoring the Detroit Tigers as 52% favorites against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Tigers' offense has been a strong performer in September, ranking fourth in the majors for OPS (.770) and wOBA (.341).
Pittsburgh is opting for a bullpen game, with veteran reliever Kirby Yates scheduled to start. The Pirates' relief corps ranks 16th in MLB with a 4.05 ERA. Meanwhile, Justin Verlander, a three-time Cy Young winner, has historically performed well in September and October, boasting a career ERA of 3.02 in those months.
The Over 8.5 runs is also a recommended pick, with the Tigers' offense showing significant power. Since September 1, Detroit has been second in the majors in wRC+ (130). Outfielder Riley Greene is a notable player to watch, currently hitting .333 with a .617 SLG and five home runs this month. Greene ranks in the 95th percentile for xSLG and 96th for barrel percentage this season, indicating his strong ability to hit for power.
Weather conditions at Comerica Park are expected to be favorable, with temperatures around 70 degrees and light winds blowing towards right field, posing no significant impact on the game. The historical trend between these two teams also favors the Over, with 10 of the last 15 meetings exceeding the 8.5 run total.
