Bucs-Tigers postponed due to rain; DH on tap Wednesday
DETROIT -- The series opener between the Pirates and Tigers on Tuesday night at Comerica Park was postponed several hours prior to first pitch due to heavy rain in the area.
It will be made up on Wednesday as part of a straight doubleheader, with first pitch for Game 1 set for 1:10 p.m. ET and Game 2 slated to start approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1. Bryse Wilson was originally slated to start on Tuesday, but the Pirates will instead turn to Dillon Peters to start Game 1 on Wednesday, with Jos¨¦ Quintana taking his regularly scheduled turn in the nightcap.
Peters is 3-0 in seven outings (one start) for Pittsburgh this season and has yet to allow a run through 13 1/3 innings. The left-hander has also allowed just one hit during that stretch, a single to start his April 24 outing in Chicago against the Cubs. In his lone start, April 27 against Milwaukee, he opened with two no-hit frames.
Quintana is coming off his best start of the season by far, a one-run, five-inning effort during which he struck out nine Brewers and walked none on Thursday. The left-hander credited the success to his changeup, and how well it played off his fastball. Quintana allowed a solo home run in the game but didn't allow a runner past second base otherwise, drawing praise from manager, who called the outing, "really solid."
Wilson might still be available in long relief Wednesday, a role he has excelled in recently. The right-hander worked four scoreless innings of relief in his last outing, April 27 at home against the Brewers. He allowed just one hit in his time, a double in the top of the sixth inning, but struck out the side in the frame. Peters also opened that game for Pittsburgh, so it's not unlikely the same setup would be used Wednesday in Detroit
The Pirates have lost five of their past six games and are looking to turn things around during the current road trip, a six-game stretch that includes Wednesday's doubleheader in Detroit followed by a four-game weekend set (twin bill Saturday) in Cincinnati.