Cardinals 5, Tigers 3: So much for the sweep

Apr 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker (18) dives safely back to first base on a pick off throw by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Keider Montero (not pictured) in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images A day after the Tigers secured the series victory — but lost Justin Verlander to the Injured List with a hip problem — they went for the series sweep on a chilly, breezy Sunday night.

A costly throwing error by a Tigers pitcher against the Cardinals (déja-vu, anyone? ) undid an early lead and sent Detroit to a 5-3 loss. Verlander was originally slated to start, on somewhat-national television (I think it was streaming on the BlorgNet app or something); the Tigers even had a special ticket promotion going, including a t-shirt commemorating his true homecoming.

Well, instead, they got everyone’s favourite sixth starter, Keider Montero, who’s in his third season… I hesitate to say “with the Tigers,” because he’s spent half of the past two seasons in Toledo. He made a dozen starts and eight relief appearances for the Tigers last year, and he was part of the WBC-winning Venezuela team earlier this spring. Facing the Tigers tonight was Kyle Leahy, who spent the previous two years in the Cardinals’ bullpen, transitioning to a starting role this year.

He had a decent 2025 in a relief role, with an ERA just above 3, a WHIP of 1. 227, and while he doesn’t usually strike everybody out, he only gave up five home runs in 88 innings. He’d been a starter from the time he was drafted in 2018 through the 2022 season in the minors; he saw some action in AAA before the Cardinals made the decision to convert him to a reliever.