Tigers strive to build momentum, clinch series vs. Pirates

The Detroit Tigers know they can't afford any extended losing streaks for the rest of the season.

After snapping a three-game skid, the Tigers will turn to Keider Montero (9-7, 3.22 ERA) on Tuesday against the host Pittsburgh Pirates in hopes of stringing wins together. The Pirates will start fellow right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (12-5, 3.82) for the second contest of a three-game series.

Detroit was swept by the Chicago White Sox this past weekend, diminishing its odds of winning the American League Central. The Tigers are now 4 1/2 games behind first-place Chicago.

Detroit, however, rebounded with an 8-5 win over Pittsburgh on Monday.

The Tigers are in a three-way tie with the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles for the third and final wild-card spot with 37 games left. And Detroit has little margin for error left as it resides in a logjam of seven teams separated by only two games.

Even after trading ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres, the Tigers still have a shot at making the playoffs.

"There's emotions around it, and it's missed opportunities," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on Monday about being swept. "We went the wrong direction, and now our path is a little bit harder -- but it's still there. And we're still in the mix."

Montero will try to build off a great outing this past Thursday in which he threw 6 1/3 shutout innings against Cleveland in a 3-0 win. He gave up only three hits and issued one walk.

Montero is 0-1 with a 4.82 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Pirates.

Pittsburgh hopes it is not too late to get back in the playoff hunt, but time is running out.

The Pirates are 6 1/2 games behind the Padres for the final wild-card spot in the National League.

Pittsburgh finally is getting its lineup back into form as Oneil Cruz was activated from the 60-day injured list on Monday. Cruz did not play in Monday's game and has not played since June 7 when he suffered fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures in his left hand.

"There's a lot of ways that Oneil can help us win," Pirates manager Don Kelly said. "We all know he's got the power, the arm strength in the outfield, the speed on the bases, and just excited to have him back to help us win."

The Pirates also could have rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin return within three weeks as he is no longer wearing a splint on his injured left ring finger. Griffin is eligible to return from the IL on Sept. 4.

Ashcraft threw his first career complete game this past Thursday at Miami. He struck out 10 batters, walked one and allowed only one run on three hits during a 13-1 win.

Ashcraft will make his first career start against the Tigers but pitched a scoreless inning in relief against them last season.

--Field Level Media