The Detroit Tigers just blew a chance to seal the series win, falling 6-4 to the Cleveland Guardians last night at Comerica Park. Framber Valdez wasn’t sharp, and the offense just couldn’t keep pace after both teams opened the game with a pair of runs in the first inning. Today, the Tigers send right-hander Keider Montero to the mound for the series finale, needing him to be on his game against a Guardians squad that’s riding high.
Detroit Needs Montero to Flip the Script
Woof, Montero’s last outing was rough, right? The 26-year-old took his seventh loss of the season against the San Francisco Giants, getting tagged for five runs on five hits, including two homers, plus three walks over six innings. That 5-2 final was definitely a step backward. He’s looking to rebound big time today. He’s faced Cleveland once before this season, back on May 19, where he tossed five frames of three-run ball on two hits, one of those a long ball, and walked four while striking out just one. He didn’t get the decision in that 4-3 Detroit loss, but you know he wants to make a statement this time.
Messick’s Dominance Is No Joke
On the flip side, the Guardians are trotting out left-hander Parker Messick, and this guy has been absolutely dealing. The 25-year-old has been on a superb six-game tear since July started, putting up a ridiculous 1.77 ERA and a 3.61 FIP across his last 35 2/3 innings. Seriously, he’s allowed just 26 hits, four homers, and walked nine while striking out 30 batters. Talk about locking it down! Until his most recent start, he hadn’t even given up more than one earned run in that stretch. Messick also faced Montero and the Tigers back in May, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits (one homer) and three walks while fanning seven over five innings. He didn’t get the decision either, but his stuff is clearly on another level right now.
The Rubber Match: Who’s Got the Edge?
This is Game 121 of the season, and it’s a huge one with the Tigers sitting at 59-61 and the Guardians right there at 59-62. Montero’s season numbers are an 8-7 record with a 3.38 ERA over 122.1 innings. His 17.5 K% and 5.7 BB% are solid, but that 3.87 FIP shows he might be getting a little lucky. Messick, on the other hand, is 9-6 with a sharp 2.57 ERA over 136.2 innings. His 25.1 K% and 7.0 BB% are better, and his 3.19 FIP suggests his performance is legit. You’ve got a struggling Montero against a red-hot Messick, and the series is on the line. First pitch is 1:10 p.m. ET from Comerica Park. This isn’t just another game; it’s a chance for Detroit to grab a crucial series win and shift some momentum. Can Montero rise to the occasion, or will Messick keep his incredible run going?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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