The Detroit Tigers open up the final series of the 2026 campaign on Friday night against their designated intraleague rivals, the Pittsburgh Pirates. It has been a long season filled with lofty highs and deep lows, and now, the end is mercifully near.
Opening things up for the Motor City Kitties is right-hander Jackson Jobe, who will make his ninth start since returning from Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old has been solid in September, posting a 3.12 ERA and 3.44 FIP over three games spanning 17
1/3 innings, allowing 11 hits (three home runs) and four walks while striking out a whopping 24 and hitting a batter for a win, loss and no-decision.
Jobe faced the Pirates earlier this season back on Aug. 19 in Pittsburgh, when he spun 5 1/3 frames of one-run ball on four hits and three walks while striking out three and plunking a batter. He took a no-decision in that game, in which the Tigers ultimately lost, 4-3.
Opposite him for the visitors is fellow righty Bubba Chandler, whose final month of the season has been a bit lackluster. The 24-year-old has put up a 4.87 ERA and a 4.92 FIP over his last four games stretching across 20 1/3 innings, surrendering 22 hits (four home runs) and while striking out 21 and recording a HBP, earning a pair of wins along the way while his team was victorious in three of those outings.
Take a look below at how the two young hurlers match up in their final start of the season.
Detroit Tigers (74-85) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (81-78)
Time (ET): 6:40 p.m.
Place: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
SB Nation Site: Bucs Dugout
Media: Detroit SportsNet, MLB.TV, Tigers Radio Network
Game 160: RHP Jackson Jobe (2-3, 3.98 ERA) vs. RHP Bubba Chandler (8-9, 4.34 ERA)
JOBE
CHANDLER
