ST. LOUIS -- It appears that the Tigers will need more from Keider Montero than originally expected.
Montero has taken Casey Mize’s spot in the rotation while Mize was sidelined with a hamstring injury. With Mize scheduled to return soon, Montero throwing 5 2/3 frames after Sean Guenther served as the opener Monday against the Cardinals figured to be his last lengthy outing in his current role.
But that could have changed with the pregame news that the Tigers recalled right-hander Chase Lee from Triple-A Toledo and placed right-hander Reese Olson on the 15-day injured list with right ring finger inflammation.
With another spot open at least in the near term, Montero’s stay figures to be extended. The hope is that results will fare better than they did in Monday's 11-4 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Montero allowed five runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking two.
But there were plenty of positives to take from Montero’s start. He threw a season-high 98 pitches, only allowed three extra-base hits and ate up enough innings to save the bullpen.
“This is a business in which you have good days and bad days,” Montero said through an interpreter. “Today was not a good one. And from every error, from every mistake, you learn.”
Guenther (0-1) took the loss as the opener. Tasked with retiring the top of the Cardinals' lineup that featured two left-handed batters, Guenther allowed a double and two straight singles to start the game, including an RBI single to Brendan Donovan that gave St. Louis a 1-0 lead. The only out Guenther recorded came via a strong throw to second by catcher Dillon Dingler to get Masyn Winn attempting to steal.
“We obviously didn't put out the performance that we wanted to today,” Dingler said. “But we've got to just turn the page and look forward to the next couple games in the series, try to win it.”
Montero held the Cardinals at bay until the fourth when Iván Herrera scored on a wild pitch. He allowed three more runs in the fifth after the first three Cardinals singled.
Montero’s night ended after allowing a leadoff double to Donovan in the seventh before the game was stopped due to a 34-minute weather delay. Donovan eventually scored, as the Cardinals broke it open with a six-run outburst once play resumed.
“We're not going to burn through pitchers [down] 5-0, and we were doing nothing offensively, so it wasn't a great night for us to try to push,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Keider did a good job of hanging in there. I sent him out because the weather was coming even for the last knock that he gave up. That's more on them not calling for the tarp. And I didn't really want to burn anybody before the rain delay. We knew it was coming.”
Olson was limited to six innings and 85 pitches in his last start in Toronto on Saturday due to irritation he dealt with in his finger as he threw his changeup.
“We're certainly not going to send Reese into a game without his full arsenal,” Hinch said. “And we'll have a further update whenever I get it. But it's not going to be this series for Reese anyway, and now we have an extra reliever.”
Olson is 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA in nine starts this season.
Hinch said Olson’s injury made it necessary to push back Jack Flaherty’s start to Thursday in the series opener against Cleveland. Wednesday’s series finale against the Cardinals will be a bullpen game.
Help could be on the way for the Tigers’ rotation after Mize had a successful live BP at Comerica Park on Monday, and he could return as early as Saturday.
Lee has appeared in eight games for the Tigers this season. He has allowed just one run and has struck out nine in nine innings pitched.
With the game out of hand and the bullpen game looming, Hinch used catcher Tomás Nido to get the final five outs.
“Obviously, at that point, you're bringing some levity into the game, and he's going to throw it as slow as he can and see if he can slow the game down,” Hinch said. “No manager loves bringing a position player in in that spot. He did it right -- throw it as slow as you can and let him swing as hard as they can and get through the outing and get to the hotel.”