In wild-card place, Tigers intention to beat Rays once more

The streaking Detroit Tigers keep on marching toward an American League wild-card berth.

The Tigers, who were nine games under .500 on July 4, are now nine games over .500 with five games remaining. Detroit (83-74) won for the seventh time in eight games by topping the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon.

The teams will play the middle 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 pushing as hard as we can. This is important. We know that,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “We’re not underestimating the team across the way in Tampa. They play close games all the time. We need more wins to get to the finish line, but these players are really doing it.”

Detroit right-hander Keider Montero (6-6, 4.86 ERA) is scheduled to start the Wednesday game. After tossing a combined 14 scoreless innings in his previous two outings, Montero gave up five runs — including four homers — in 4 2/3 innings at Baltimore on Friday.

“Location was the issue,” Montero said through an interpreter. “You don’t want to leave pitches up in major league baseball. These hitters don’t miss those opportunities.”

The rookie will be facing the Rays for the first time.

He will be opposed by right-hander Zack Littell (8-9, 3.56 ERA), who has been lights out in his last three appearances. He hasn’t allowed a run during that stretch, spanning 18 innings. His opponents have been able to scratch out only six hits and one walk, and he has fanned 16.

In his latest outing, Littell tossed seven innings of one-hit ball against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

“Really remarkable,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He’s been reliable, dependable. You feel like you know what you’re gonna get every outing, and then he puts an outing like this together where it’s just really impressive.”

Overall, Littell hasn’t allowed a run in 20 innings. He has a 2.15 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break.

Littell was converted into a starter last season. He has made 28 starts this season after starting just 18 times in his first six major league campaigns.

“I think if you step back and look at it, which I’ll definitely do after the season … that’s impressive,” Littell said of his success in the rotation. “I think I’ll appreciate being able to do that in my first year as a full-time starter and look to build on that next year.”

Littell will look to avenge an April 22 loss in which the Tigers scored six runs (five earned) in six innings. Overall, he is 2-1 with a 2.81 ERA in six career appearances, including two starts, against Detroit.

Tampa Bay (78-79) hasn’t been officially eliminated from playoff contention, but the Rays are on the brink after seeing their four-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday. Brandon Lowe’s home run with two outs in the ninth prevented a shutout.

There was no shame in losing to American League Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal, who tossed seven shutout innings.

“Skubal dominated and got better as the game got going,” Hinch said. “That was really encouraging. Obviously, he’s our guy.”

–Field Level Media