Tigers hope rookie Troy Melton can provide spark vs. Pirates

The Detroit Tigers are looking for something to break them out of their recent struggles. They will turn to prospect Troy Melton, who will make his major league debut on Wednesday afternoon against the host Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale of a three-game series.

Melton, the Tigers' No. 10-ranked prospect per MLB.com, will oppose Pirates lefty Bailey Falter (6-5, 4.00 ERA) as Detroit attempts to regroup from a stretch of eight losses in its past nine games.

The Pirates will try to secure their fourth three-game series sweep of the season. They have won nine of their past 12 home games.

Whether it's one time or multiple starts for Melton, the Tigers would like to get a good look at their 24-year-old right-hander, who compiled a 2.72 ERA with 56 strikeouts and nine walks in 36 1/3 innings for Triple-A Toledo.

Before being promoted, Melton recorded a 3.23 ERA with 45 strikeouts and 11 walks in 39 innings over 10 starts for Double-A Erie.

Melton, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by the Tigers out of San Diego State, has an opportunity to perhaps secure a spot in the rotation or as a long reliever down the stretch for a Detroit squad that still holds a comfortable lead in the American League Central despite its recent struggles.

The Tigers' current rotation consists of Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Keider Montero.

"We've been monitoring him the last few starts," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said of Melton on Monday. "His stuff has gotten better. His fastball command has gotten better. The punchouts have been there."

Falter had a spectacular month of May when he went 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA in six starts. Since then, he has gone 2-2 with a 5.60 ERA in eight starts (35 1/3 innings).

Over his three July starts, Falter is 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA, having allowed 11 runs (10 earned) in 14 1/3 innings. He yielded seven home runs in those three games after allowing nine over his first 17 starts.

In his most recent start, on Friday in the Pirates' first game after the All-Star break, Falter surrendered four runs on six hits, including two home runs, walked one and struck out two over four innings in a 10-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Falter faced the Tigers for the first time on June 17 at Detroit. He gave up three runs on five hits, including two home runs, walked one and struck out four over five innings.

"(He needs to) continue to be committed to his fastball. Pitching in and pitching up is his go-to," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "Finding ways to attack the strike zone, getting ahead. Makes it really tough as a pitcher whenever you're behind in a count. We have to be ahead, and we've done a good job of that for most of the year."

Javier Baez, who returned to Detroit's lineup on Tuesday after missing one game with a sore left shoulder, has two home runs in three career at-bats against Falter.

--Field Level Media