September 10, 2024; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero (54) pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at UnionSign Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The roaring Detroit Tigers continue their march toward an American League wild-card berth.
The Tigers were nine games below .500 on July 4 and are now nine games above .500 with five games remaining. Detroit (83-74) defeated the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon for its seventh win in eight games.
The two teams will meet in the midfield game of the three-game series on Wednesday night.
The Tigers are tied with the Kansas City Royals (83-74) for the second and third wild cards, two games ahead of the Minnesota Twins and 2 1/2 ahead of the Seattle Mariners.
“We're working as hard as we can. It's important. We know that,” Detroit manager AJ Hinch said. “We're not underestimating the team across from Tampa. They've been playing close games. We need more wins to get to the finish line, but these guys are really doing it.”
Detroit right-hander Cade Montero (6-6, 4.86 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday's game. After pitching a combined 14 scoreless innings in his first two games, Montero gave up five runs, including four homers, in 4 2/3 innings in Baltimore on Friday.
“Location is the problem,” Montero said through an interpreter. “You don't want to leave pitching out in major league baseball. These hitters aren't going to miss these opportunities.”
The rookie will face the Rays for the first time.
He will face right-hander Zack Littell (8-9, 3.56 ERA), who has struggled in his past three games. He allowed no runs in 18 innings. His opponent had just six hits and one run, while he had 16 hits.
In his most recent outing, Little pitched seven innings of one-hit ball against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
“It's really amazing,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He's dependable and trustworthy. You feel like you know what you're going to get every outing, and then he puts an outing like this together, which is really impressive.”
Overall, Little allowed no runs in 20 innings. He has a 2.15 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break.
Little became a starter last season. He made just 18 starts in his first six major league games and has made 28 starts this season.
“I think if you step back and look at it, I'm definitely going to do it after the season…it's impressive,” Little said of his success in the rotation. “I think I’m going to be happy to be able to do that in my first year as a full-time starter and hopefully build on that next year.”
Little will be looking to avenge a loss on April 22, when the Tigers allowed six runs (five ERA) in six innings. Overall, he has a 2-1 record with a 2.81 ERA in six career appearances, including two starts, against Detroit.
Tampa Bay (78-79) hasn't officially been eliminated from playoff contention, but the Rays are on the edge after their four-game winning streak was snapped on Tuesday. Brandon Lowe hit a two-out home run in the ninth to avoid a shutout.
There was no shame in losing to American League Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal, who pitched seven scoreless innings.
“As the game went on, Skubal dominated and got better and better,” Hinch said. “That's really encouraging. Obviously, he's our guy.”
–Scene-level media