On Saturday, May 2, at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers got exactly what they needed from right-hander Keider Montero: a masterclass in both quantity and quality pitching. Facing the Texas Rangers in the second game of their three-game series, Montero delivered a performance that not only secured a win but also gave a much-needed breather to a bullpen stretched thin by recent injuries.

Montero was the definition of efficient, needing just 85 pitches to navigate 6⅔ innings. He allowed only one run—a solo home run—on five hits and two walks, striking out two along the way. The 25-year-old lowered his ERA to 3.48 across six starts, and he was nearly untouchable early, not surrendering a hit until there were two outs in the fourth inning. It was the kind of outing that stabilizes a team, especially when the bullpen is already dealing with absences like Will Vest (right forearm inflammation) and closer Kenley Jansen managing an injury without hitting the injured list.

But Montero wasn't the only story. The Tigers' offense came out swinging early, putting all five of their runs on the board in the first two innings against Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker, who was pulled after just 43 pitches. The big blow came from catcher Dillon Dingler, who launched a three-run home run 443 feet to left field with a 107.8 mph exit velocity—all with two strikes and two outs on a slider that caught too much of the zone.

Not everything went smoothly, though. In the first inning, Riley Greene singled, but second baseman Gleyber Torres—the team's slowest runner—was thrown out at home plate by right fielder Ezequiel Duran. Torres later exited the game before the fourth inning with left side tightness. The Tigers kept the pressure on in the second, with Kevin McGonigle adding another two-out hit to keep the rally alive.

With the Tigers now at 17-17 and the Rangers at 16-17, Sunday's rubber match promises more drama. Detroit will go with a bullpen-only game in place of the injured Casey Mize, while Texas sends right-hander Jack Leiter to the mound. First pitch is at 7:20 p.m. on Peacock.