Pittsburgh Pirates (43-33) at Detroit Tigers (39-37), 7:08 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - A.J. Burnett is winless in his last four starts and will try to keep the Pittsburgh Pirates rolling when they target a series win over the Detroit Tigers Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Burnett has an 0-2 record and a 1.57 earned run average in his winless stretch and the Pirates are 1-3 in that time. Burnett had won six straight starts prior to this rough patch and gave up two runs -- one earned -- and eight hits in six innings of Thursday's 5-4 loss to Cincinnati.
The veteran right-hander is 6-3 with a 2.01 ERA in 15 starts this season and hasn't won since June 2 at San Francisco. Burnett is 4-1 in eight road starts and 6-3 with a 4.81 ERA in 12 career starts against the Tigers.
Detroit will counter with Alfredo Simon and he is 7-4 with a 3.57 earned run average in 14 starts. Simon is 0-1 in his last two outings -- both Detroit losses -- and gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings of an 8-7 defeat to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday.
Simon lasted just 2 2/3 innings of a 14-3 setback at Yankee Stadium on June 20 and was rattled for seven runs and eight hits.
The Dominican righty has pitched well at home this season, going 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA, and is 4-4 with a 2.98 ERA in 19 career games (5 starts) against the Pirates.
Pittsburgh squeezed out a 5-4 win in 14 innings on Tuesday, as Neil Walker stroked a double to score Josh Harrison in the top of the 14th. The Tigers put two runners on with one out in the bottom of the inning, but Victor Martinez grounded into a game-ending double play.
Deolis Guerra allowed three hits in three scoreless innings of relief for the win and starter Gerrit Cole limited the Tigers to a pair of runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings of work.
Chris Stewart had three hits and both Andrew McCutchen and Walker ended with two hits and an RBI for the Pirates, winners in three of four and 12 of the past 18 games.
"We just kept throwing it out there, really. Really a good team win," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
The Tigers had won five of seven games before opening this series with a loss.
Justin Verlander put forth a quality start and gave up three runs -- two earned -- and six hits in six innings. Tom Gorzelanny was dealt the loss for allowing Walker's clutch two-base hit in the 14th inning.
J.D. Martinez finished 3-for-6 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored, while Nick Castellanos and James McCann had three hits apiece.
"We battled and had our opportunities, but we just didn't get that big hit," Martinez said. "There were some two-out chances we had there, they had one and got the hit. That's about it."
The Tigers took two of three from the Pirates when these teams met up in the Motor City back in April.