Drew Anderson keeps making a case that he belongs in the Tigers’ rotation, and Tuesday night gave him another clean data point. Against the Blue Jays, he worked five innings, allowed just two hits and no runs, and did it while navigating three walks. The command wasn’t perfect, but the result was exactly what Detroit wanted: another strong start from a pitcher who has settled in as a reliable No. 4 or 5.
That’s been the story for Anderson for a while now. He carried a 4.24 ERA in a hybrid role before the trade deadline, then lowered that to 2.58 after moving into the rotation full-time.
The Tigers still aren’t letting him stretch too far - he hasn’t gone beyond 5 1/3 innings in any start - but the trend line is obvious. Since becoming a starter, he’s looked more and more like one.
Keider Montero is in a similar lane, which is why this has turned into a real spring-training question for Detroit. Montero followed Anderson on the mound the next day as the Tigers chased a sweep and their seventh straight win, and he too has carved out value for the club. He’s spent stretches of the last few seasons in that in-between space, bouncing between roles, but Detroit needed him to step up early this year after Justin Verlander went on the IL following one start.
That leaves the Tigers with a potentially crowded picture for 2027. If Framber Valdez, Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, and Reese Olson are all healthy and Detroit stays with a five-man rotation, Anderson and Montero could end up fighting for one spot when spring training rolls around.
Anderson has the edge in one important area: he has looked more comfortable as a starter, and that matters if the Tigers decide to keep him in the rotation. He’d also be the more expensive option if Detroit picks up his $10 million club option for 2027.
Montero, though, has his own argument. He was there first, and he’s put in the work across the majors and minors, the rotation and the bullpen, for a long time.
There’s also a case for a six-man rotation, especially with Olson coming off shoulder surgery and likely needing extra rest as he’s built back up.
However it shakes out, Anderson and Montero have given the Tigers something solid to build on in 2026.
In Other News...
Tigers Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Than One White Sox Loss
Framber Valdez gave the Tigers a chance to settle in Tuesday night, piling up strikeouts over five innings, but Detroit still left with a 3-1 loss to the White Sox in the opener of the series. Chicago jumped in front early on Munetaka Murakamis three-run homer, and even after the Tigers pushed across a run in the third, they never really got back to even.
The bigger issue for Detroit is what the loss hints at beyond a single game: an offense that could not fully capitalize on a solid outing from the mound. In a series where the Tigers needed a clean reset, they instead spent the night trying to erase an early hole, and now have to answer whether this was just a rough start or the beginning of a more familiar problem. [Read more 🡒]
Curtis Granderson Is Returning To Tigers Coverage In Chicago
The Tigers are heading into a four-game series in Chicago after a loss to the Blue Jays, and the broadcast setup for the second game should add a familiar voice to the mix. Former Detroit outfielder Curtis Granderson will join the clubs radio coverage during the third and fourth innings, giving listeners on both the Tigers and White Sox broadcasts a chance to hear from one of the more recognizable names to come through the organization.
Grandersons return to the airwaves also carries a local twist, since he was drafted by Detroit and grew up in Chicago, where his ties have remained strong off the field as well. Through the Grand Kids Foundation, he has supported youth initiatives in Illinois, so this isnt just a brief reunion with an old team. It is another reminder of how often Grandersons path continues to circle back to the cities that shaped his career. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Wild Card Push Still Has One Frustrating Problem
The Tigers six-game winning streak ended in frustrating fashion against the Blue Jays, and the reason was impossible to miss. Three straight errors helped open the door to two unearned runs, turning a competitive game into a reminder that Detroits Wild Card push still has some rough edges, even as the club stays very much in the race.
Defense has been the nagging issue around this team, and it showed up at the wrong time in a stretch when every game matters. The Tigers now head into a series against the White Sox knowing the margin for error is shrinking, and if they want to keep climbing, they will need cleaner baseball behind the pitching staff. [Read more 🡒]