The Pirates are going for the sweep after taking games 1 and 2, 3-0 and 8-5. Detroit will toss Melton on the mound, who makes his first career start. The Tigers' five runs in Tuesday's games was more than the four combined runs scored in the four previous outings.

"We're a really good team," Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson said after the eighth loss in nine games. "We just got to play like it."

The Tigers (60-42) have lost eight of their last nine games and now face the possibility of being swept by the last-place Pirates.

The Detroit Tigers are looking for some semblance of a spark as they're calling up No. 10 prospect Troy Melton, who will make his Major League Baseball debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.

The Pirates, who had lost 11 of their previous 12 games, have taken the first two games of the series from the AL Central leaders.

Detroit Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows hit a double off Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Monday, July 21 — his first extra-base hit since June 22.