Game Thread: Pirates look to regroup against visiting Tigers

In their first rematch series of the year, the stumbling Pirates return home after a much needed day off. Chad Kuhl (2-1, 4.57) attempts to break the team out of it’s fugue as he faces Jordan Zimmermann (1-0, 7.71), whom the Pirates touched up for four runs in six innings Opening Day in Detroit, albeit with a single walk vs eight punch-outs.

The Tigers signed Zimmermann away from the Nationals after the 2015 season, rewarding him with a 5 year, $110 million contract - but in his 51 starts with Detroit he’s crafted a 5.72 ERA over 282 innings. His fastball, which averaged close to 94 mph in his years in Washington, is down to 91.1 this year. He mixes a slider and curve in with the four-seamer.

Without the ability to use a Designated Hitter, Victor Martinez heads to the Tigers bench and The JaCoby Jones starts in left field in place of Mikie Mahtook. They’ll have only two left-handed swingers in their lineup facing Kuhl.

For the Pirates, Adam Frazier gets a start at second base, spelling Jordy Mercer as Sean Rodriguez slides over to shortstop and down to the number eight spot in the lineup, and David Freese gets a start at third in place of the slumping Colin Moran.

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TIGERS

1 L Leonys Martin CF

2 S Jeimer Candelario 3B

3 R Miguel Cabrera 1B

4 R Nicholas Castellanos RF

5 R JaCoby Jones LF

6 R James McCann C

7 R Dixon Machado 2B

8 R Jose Iglesias SS

9 R Jordan Zimmermann RHP

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PIRATES

1 L Adam Frazier 2B

2 L Gregory Polanco RF

3 R Starling Marte CF

4 S Josh Bell 1B

5 L Corey Dickerson LF

6 R Francisco Cervelli C

7 R David Freese 3B

8 R Sean Rodriguez SS

9 R Chad Kuhl RHP