The Detroit Tigers finally snapped their three-game losing streak on Monday night, pulling out an 8-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. It was a rollercoaster ride, with the Tigers holding a massive seven-run lead only to see the Pirates claw back with a four-run seventh inning, making things a little too close for comfort. Now, the Motor City Kitties have right-hander Keider Montero on the bump tonight, looking to clinch the series on the road.
Montero’s Bizarre Brilliance on the Mound
Keider Montero’s season has been a bit of a head-scratcher since he jumped back into the starting rotation. The 26-year-old’s results have been all over the place, but his last outing was flat-out legendary for how weird it was. He tossed 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball, only giving up three hits and a walk. What’s wild? Montero didn’t register a single strikeout in that 3-0 win against the Cleveland Guardians. Seriously, zero Ks. That’s the first time a team threw a shutout without whiffing a single batter since, wait for it, Detroit did it 14 years prior. Talk about an anomaly! Montero comes into tonight’s Game 126 with a 9-7 record and a 3.22 ERA, sporting a 16.7 K% and 2.2 fWAR over his 128.2 innings across 26 games.
Ashcraft’s All-Star Ascension
For the home team, it’s fellow righty Braxton Ashcraft climbing the hill, and this dude has been straight-up fire. The 26-year-old is in his sophomore season and has been showing out, even earning himself an All-Star nod. His last start? Oh, it was just the best of his career. Ashcraft went the distance, throwing a complete game where he allowed only one solo home run, three total hits, and a single walk, all while striking out a massive 10 batters. He picked up his 12th win in that gem, with the Bucs absolutely crushing it for a 13-1 victory. Ashcraft’s numbers are solid, with a 12-5 record, a 3.88 ERA, a higher 27.0 K%, and a 2.9 fWAR over 141.1 innings through 24 games.
Tonight’s game isn’t just about two solid right-handers facing off. It’s the rubber match. The Tigers, sitting at 61-64, are looking to take the series against the Pirates, who are just slightly behind them at 61-66. Can Montero find that weird, no-strikeout magic again, or will Ashcraft, fresh off a career-defining performance, shut down the Detroit bats and even things up? This one’s gonna be a must-watch. You can catch all the action tonight at 6:40 p.m. ET from PNC Park.
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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