Tigers vs Paul Skenes: Pirates prediction, TV and stream
The Detroit Tigers close their Pittsburgh series Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 12:35 p.m. ET against Paul Skenes and the Pirates at PNC Park. Watch on Detroit SportsNet or stream via Fubo. Jackson Jobe starts for Detroit, and the Detroit Free Press predicts a 6-3 Pirates win in this tigers pirates showdown.
Wednesday's finale is the third game of a three-game interleague set at PNC Park. Both teams enter with playoff implications on their minds. According to MLB.com, Detroit entered the week one game out of the third AL Wild Card spot despite a weekend sweep by the division-leading White Sox, while Pittsburgh sat six games back in the NL but still on pace for its best record in nearly a decade.
Key Takeaways
- First pitch is 12:35 p.m. ET; TV on Detroit SportsNet, streaming on Fubo, radio on WXYT-FM 97.1.
- Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.88 ERA) opposes Jackson Jobe in a battle of 24-year-old right-handers.
- The Free Press picks Pirates 6, Tigers 3, citing Skenes' recent form and Detroit's offensive gaps.
- Healthy Tigers regulars who have faced Skenes are a combined 3-for-29 with two RBIs against him.
- Detroit is without lefty sluggers Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter for this matchup.
Where can you watch Tigers vs Pirates on Aug. 19?
Detroit fans can watch Wednesday's game locally on Detroit SportsNet through MLB.com and the MLB app. Out-of-market viewers can stream the matchup on Fubo. Radio coverage is available on WXYT-FM 97.1 in the Detroit area.
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How has Paul Skenes pitched lately?
Skenes won the 2025 National League Cy Young Award and posted a 1.96 ERA in 2024 and 1.97 in 2025. In 2026, he is 9-11 with a 3.88 ERA over 134⅔ innings — still above average, but closer to league norms than his first two seasons.
Since mid-May, when he carried a 1.98 ERA through nine starts, Skenes has been more vulnerable. Over his past four starts dating to July 25, he has a 6.52 ERA with 20 hits and 11 walks across 19⅓ innings against the Cubs, Reds, Brewers and Marlins — all Pirates losses. That slump could give Detroit an opening, even though the Tigers have struggled against him historically.
Can Jackson Jobe bounce back for the Tigers?
Jobe, the No. 3 overall pick in 2021, is making his second start of 2026 after returning from Tommy John surgery. He allowed nine hits and six earned runs over 3⅔ innings in a 9-5 loss to the White Sox on Friday at Comerica Park. He has not thrown at least 75 pitches in a game since May 2025, per the Detroit Free Press.
Detroit loaded its lineup with left-handed hitters to counter right-handed pitching this series, but Skenes remains the final test. Rookies Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Brett Callahan have never faced him in the majors. The Tigers' bullpen is still sorting itself out, and without Greene and Carpenter, the offense may lean heavily on Jobe to go deep.
Who wins the Tigers vs Pirates prediction?
The Free Press predicts a 6-3 Pirates victory. Pittsburgh ranks third in MLB in runs scored as of Tuesday, giving Skenes run support even during his recent downturn. Detroit's 16-12 record since the All-Star break keeps its Wild Card hopes alive, but a young lineup facing a Cy Young winner — even one not at peak form — is a steep ask.
Skenes may see this as a chance to right the ship against unfamiliar rookies. Jobe needs a sharp outing to flip the narrative on his comeback. On paper, Pittsburgh's offense and home-field edge tip the scales, but a hot start from Detroit's lefties could tighten what projects as a low-scoring afternoon in the Steel City.