Keider Montero tries to steady Tigers in opener vs. Orioles

A compelling case exists for Keider Montero as the Detroit Tigers' Most Valuable Player this season.

Montero has bounced between the starting rotation and long relief, consistently providing quality innings in either role. He will start the opener of a three-game home series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.

Montero (7-5, 3.14 ERA) is currently in the rotation in part because Jack Flaherty (right flexor inflammation) is on the injured list. The Tigers are also going through a 13-game stretch without a day off.

In his last outing on Wednesday, Montero started in Chicago and limited the Cubs to one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings, while recording eight strikeouts. In his previous appearance, Montero closed out a game against the Los Angeles Angels with 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

"His versatility is one thing," manager A.J. Hinch said. "Everybody can see it on the field. He's pitched in a lot of different innings, maybe in every inning of the game so far it feels like. But more importantly, it's his buy-in to just do his best and give everything he has in the role that he's being given. He hasn't asked a lot of questions. He hasn't complained at all. He's accepted whatever his responsibility is that day."

As a starter, Montero has held opponents to a .210 batting average and .611 OPS. He's been even more stingy in a relief role, limiting the opposition to a .176 average and .446 OPS.

"He's an animal out there," first baseman Spencer Torkelson said. "He attacks the zone, gets ahead, puts guys away. I mean, he's the real deal. I love playing behind him."

Montero has faced the Orioles three times, posting one win and a 3.86 ERA.

Kyle Bradish (7-9, 3.49) will start the series opener for Baltimore. Bradish has posted quality starts in five of his last six appearances, including all three of his July starts.

In his first outing since the All-Star break, Bradish held Boston to one run and four hits in six innings on Wednesday. Baltimore ended the Red Sox's 15-game winning streak in the process.

"I definitely went out there with that on my mind, trying to end it," he said.

Bradish signed a five-year, $90 million extension just after the break, making him the highest-paid pitcher in franchise history.

"We all know who K.B. is and what he's capable of," Orioles manager Craig Albernaz said. "It was just great to see him go out there and kind of be that stopper for us. And he did a great job of pounding the strike zone. Fastball shapes were great. Breaking balls were outstanding, and he did a great job getting us through six."

Bradish gave up three runs in 4 2/3 innings in his lone career outing against Detroit in 2023.

The Tigers lost a pair of one-run games to Kansas City over the weekend, snapping a three-game winning streak. The Orioles have lost four of their last six games, including a 3-2, 11-inning decision to the visiting Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

--Field Level Media