Tigers' Keider Montero: Takes loss despite hot start
Rotowire
Montero (0-1) took the loss Sunday against the Cardinals, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and one walk while striking out three over 4.1 innings.
Making his first start of the season in place of Justin Verlander (hip), Montero was sharp early, retiring 12 of the first 13 batters he faced and holding St. Louis scoreless through four innings. The right-hander ran into trouble in the fifth however, allowing three baserunners, including an RBI single from Pedro Pages that ended his outing. Both inherited runners eventually came around to score, accounting for his final line. Sunday's strong start was an encouraging sign for Montero after he posted a 4.37 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 72 strikeouts across 90.2 innings in 2025 and he'll look to build on the early success in his next outing against a Miami lineup that has started the season swinging well.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Recalled from Toledo
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The Tigers recalled Montero from Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old righty will join the big-league rotation as a replacement for Justin Verlander, who landed on the injured list Saturday with a hip injury. Montero made 20 appearances (12 starts) with the Tigers last season, posting a 4.37 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 90.2 innings. He began the 2026 campaign by throwing four shutout frames in Triple-A while allowing just one hit and one walk. He'll make his MLB season debut Sunday against the Cardinals.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Sent packing to minors camp
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Montero to minor-league camp Wednesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Montero had seemed to have a good shot to break camp in a long man or swingman role, so it's a surprise he's an early March cut. He struggled in his first two Grapefruit League outings but tossed three scoreless frames in Wednesday's exhibition contest against Team Panama. Even though he won't be with them on Opening Day, Montero remains likely to spend a large chunk of the season with the Tigers.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Middling spring results so far
Rotowire
Montero allowed two runs on five hits with no walks and no strikeouts across three innings during Thursday's Grapefruit League against the Orioles.
Montero has now made two appearances this spring, and he's allowed five runs on eight hits across five innings of work, while striking out two. The righty delivered a serviceable 4.37 ERA across 90.2 regular-season innings last year, working primarily as a starter. However, with the Tigers adding Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander to their rotation in the offseason, Montero will likely have to settle for competing for a long-relief role to begin the year.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Goes 4.1 innings vs. Red Sox
Rotowire
Montero didn't factor into the decision Saturday against Boston, allowing one run on five hits across 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.
While Montero had a short leash Saturday, it was a strong bounce-back outing for the right-hander, after he gave up three runs in three innings while walking four against Atlanta his last time out. The 25-year-old Montero will finish the regular season at 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 72:31 K:BB across 90.2 innings.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Picking up another start
Rotowire
Montero is slated to start Saturday's game against Atlanta at Comerica Park.
After being called up from Triple-A Toledo on Sept. 3, Montero made his first two appearances with the Tigers as a reliever before being called upon to make a start in Miami last Sunday. The right-hander acquitted himself well in that outing, earning a win while striking out five over five shutout innings. He'll be rewarded with another turn through the rotation as a result of his prior performance, and he could have a slightly longer leash after tossing just 76 pitches against the Marlins before being removed from the contest.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Cruises to victory
Rotowire
Motero (5-3) allowed three hits over five scoreless innings Sunday, striking out five and earning a win over the Marlins.
Montero gave up three singles and did not allow a runner to reach scoring position. He fell short of a quality start but tossed 50 strikes on 76 total pitches; it was his highest pitch count since July 25, which was his last MLB appearance before spending just over a month with Triple-A Toledo. Montero now owns a 4.32 ERA with a 63:27 K:BB through 83.1 MLB innings this season. He's lined up for a home start against Atlanta next weekend.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Drawing start Sunday
Rotowire
Montero will start for the Tigers during Sunday's game in Miami, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
For at least one turn, Montero will take the rotation spot of Sawyer Gipson-Long, who landed on the injured list Friday due to neck stiffness. Montero is no stranger to a starting role, as he's made nine starts (out of 17 appearances) this season and has completed as many as eight innings in a contest (May 8 against Colorado). Montero was dispatched to the minors in late July, and since returning to the big-league club Sept. 3, he's made two appearances in relief, allowing two earned runs with a 5:2 K:BB over five innings. Because he'll be pitching on just two days' rest after tossing 1.2 innings in Thursday's loss to the Yankees, Montero will likely be in line for an abbreviated workload during Sunday's start. Stavenhagen suggests that Jose Urquidy could be called upon to work multiple innings in relief behind Montero.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Back up with big club
Rotowire
The Tigers recalled Montero from Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday.
He'll join the 28-man active roster as a replacement for Chris Paddack, who was placed on the bereavement list. Montero will give the Tigers bullpen some much-needed length after their relievers had to cover five innings in Tuesday's 12-5 loss to the Mets.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Allows five earned runs in loss
Rotowire
Montero (4-3) allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits across four innings to take the loss Friday against the Blue Jays. He struck out three.
Montero ran into a hot Toronto team and continued his recent stretch of poor performances. Over his last three outings, he's been tagged for 12 earned runs across 11.1 innings. In his three prior starts, Montero had looked a lot better, allowing just four earned runs over 16 innings. Overall, the 25-year-old has a 4.66 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 53 strikeouts across 73.1 innings this year. With Troy Melton getting called up for his MLB debut Wednesday. the Tigers could have some competition for the No. 5 spot in their rotation moving forward. That could squeeze Montero out, though he's also a candidate to start again in the near future if Melton struggles or if another starter sustains an injury.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Recalled ahead of start
Rotowire
The Tigers recalled Montero from Triple-A Toledo on Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Montero will start for the Tigers in Monday's series opener versus the Rays. The righty has posted a 4.02 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB over 56 frames with the big club this season. Montero could be headed back to Toledo after Monday's outing.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Goes five innings in bulk role
Rotowire
Montero did not factor into the decision in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out five.
It was a solid outing for Montero, who came out of the bullpen in the second inning, with the lone blemish coming on an Andrew McCutchen solo home run in the third. The 24-year-old Montero has allowed just three runs over 10 innings in his last two appearances. His ERA is down to 4.02 with a 1.39 WHIP and 39:20 K:BB across 56 innings this season.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Pitches well in no-decision
Rotowire
Montero did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 1-0 win over the Royals, allowing seven hits and one walk while striking out two over 4.2 scoreless innings.
Montero threw 53 of 72 pitches for strikes and departed one out short of qualifying for the win. The 24-year-old has now tossed back-to-back scoreless outings but has failed to complete five innings in three of his six starts this season. He'll carry a 4.02 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 26:16 K:BB across 40.1 innings into what will likely be a home matchup against the Cubs next weekend.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Set for bulk role Monday
Rotowire
Montero is expected to work in bulk relief behind opening pitcher Sean Guenther in Monday's game in St. Louis, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
The Cardinals typically use two left-handed batters -- Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan -- among their top three spots in the lineup, so the Tigers will have the left-handed Guenther open the game with the hope of stymieing the St. Louis offense early on. Guenther is unlikely to work more than a couple of innings before giving way to Montero, who will be making his second straight appearance in a bulk-relief role after covering 3.1 frames and giving up three earned runs out of the bullpen last Tuesday against the Red Sox. Montero should stick around as the de facto fifth member of the Detroit rotation until Casey Mize (hamstring) is cleared to return from the 15-day injured list.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Yields three runs in relief
Rotowire
Montero allowed three runs on five hits and a walk over 3.1 innings during Tuesday's extra-innings win over Boston. He struck out three and did not factor in the decision.
Montero was recalled from Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday and worked in a bulk-relief role after Tyler Holton threw 1.2 innings as the opener. Alex Bregman knocked a solo home run in the fourth inning and Boston tallied a pair of runs in the fifth. Montero owns a 4.68 ERA with an 18:11 K:BB through 25 MLB innings. If he sees another turn in the rotation or as a bulk reliever, he'd be lined up to make his next appearance in St. Louis.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Officially recalled
Rotowire
Montero was recalled from Triple-A Toledo ahead of Tuesday's game against the Red Sox.
Montero will work as the bulk reliever behind opener Tyler Holton. Montero has a 4.15 ERA and 1.48 WHIP this season with 15 strikeouts and 10 walks in 21.2 innings.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Working in bulk relief Tuesday
Rotowire
Montero will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo and is set to be deployed as a bulk reliever in Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Montero will fill the opening in the rotation created by Casey Mize's (hamstring) recent move to the injured list, but the 24-year-old righty won't be tasked with handling a traditional starting role. Instead, the Tigers will use Tyler Holton as their opening pitcher, but he's expected to cover no more than one or two innings before giving way to Montero. Montero is fresh off an impressive eight-inning outing with the Tigers against the Rockies at Coors Field last Thursday, when he surrendered one run on five hits while striking out two and walking three.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Sent back down after spot start
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Montero to Triple-A Toledo on Sunday.
Montero made a spot start during Saturday's doubleheader against the Orioles, yielding one run on four hits and two walks while striking out two across 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander will now rejoin the rotation at Toledo as he awaits another opportunity at the big-league level.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Starting Game 2 as 27th man
Rotowire
The Tigers added Montero to their roster as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader, and he will start the nightcap against Baltimore, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers didn't use Montero out of the bullpen during Game 1, so they'll give the 24-year-old his third start of the season Saturday. He's allowed eight earned runs over 9.1 innings in the majors so far this season but will have a decent chance to bounce back against an Orioles offense that ranks 20th in the majors with a .692 OPS.
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Tigers' Keider Montero: Struggles in no-decision
Rotowire
Montero did not factor into the decision in Monday's 6-4 win over the Padres, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and four walks over 1.1 innings. He struck out three.
Montero slogged through this 91-pitch performance that saw him match a career worst in issuing four free passes. The San Diego lineup set the tone in the first inning, generating a run on two hits and a walk, as Montero couldn't manage a clean inning. The 24-year-old has pitched to a 7.71 ERA and 1.93 WHIP while allowing four homers across 9.1 innings. After making two starts, he looks bound for the minors again as Montero received the likely temporary promotion to give the Detroit rotation extra rest.
