The Pittsburgh Pirates wrap up regular season business on the road Sunday, September 27, when they visit the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park for a 3:10 PM ET first pitch. Jared Jones gets the ball for Pittsburgh opposite Detroit's River Ryan in what figures to be a critical late-September matchup for both clubs. SportsNet Pittsburgh will carry the action locally, with Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan handling radio duties for Pirates fans tuning in from back home.
Pirates vs. Tigers Pitching Matchup: Jared Jones vs. River Ryan
Jones steps into the spotlight in one of the final frames of the 2026 regular season. The right-hander has been one of the more closely watched arms in the Pittsburgh rotation this year, and how he performs Sunday will matter — both for the outcome of this game and for whatever the Pirates are chasing heading into the final days of the schedule.
On the other side, River Ryan takes the hill for Detroit. Ryan is a live arm who can be difficult to square up when he's locating his stuff. The Tigers will lean on him to keep Pittsburgh's lineup off balance and give their club a chance to close out the home portion of their schedule on a strong note.
Keys to Watch for Pittsburgh at Comerica Park
- Jones's command: Comerica Park is a big ballpark, but that only matters if the Pirates can keep runners off base. Jones needs to work efficiently through Detroit's lineup and avoid deep counts that force him out of the game early.
- Capitalizing against Ryan: River Ryan is capable of pitching deep into games, so Pittsburgh's hitters need to do damage when they get their pitches. Patience at the plate and situational hitting will be the difference-makers.
- Bullpen management: With the regular season winding down, how the Pirates handle their late-inning arms will be worth monitoring. Roster decisions at this stage of the year always carry a subtext worth watching.
- Defensive execution: Late-September road games can carry a loose, end-of-season feel. The Pirates cannot afford mental mistakes in the field behind Jones if they want to come away with a result worth celebrating.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Detroit Tigers: Prediction
This one hinges on Jared Jones. If he's locked in and pitching to contact, Pittsburgh has the pitching foundation to steal a road win at Comerica. Ryan is capable, but the Pirates have the pieces to make things uncomfortable for Detroit's offense. Call it a narrow Pittsburgh win — Jones goes six solid innings, the bullpen holds, and the Pirates close out their road trip with something to show for it.
