The Detroit Tigers have given themselves another meaningful September afternoon.
Detroit enters today’s series finale against the Toronto Blue Jays riding a six-game winning streak. A victory would complete a three-game sweep at Rogers Centre and move the Tigers another step closer in a crowded American League Wild Card race.
First pitch is scheduled for 3:07 p.m. ET on Detroit SportsNet.
DETROIT HAS FOUND ITS MOMENTUM
The Tigers improved to 72-79 with a 10-1 win over Toronto Tuesday night. Detroit has outscored the Blue Jays 16-6 through the first two games of the series.
The latest victory looked nothing like Monday’s tense 6-5 comeback. Detroit scored early enough to give its pitching staff room and kept adding runs through the ninth inning.
Spencer Torkelson led the offense with a three-run homer, a double, a walk and his first stolen base of the season. His fourth-inning blast was his 24th home run.
Hao-Yu Lee added his ninth homer, while Max Clark collected an RBI double and an RBI single. Drew Anderson held Toronto scoreless across five innings.
Detroit has now secured three consecutive series victories. A win today would produce a second straight sweep following the three-game run against Colorado.
KEIDER MONTERO GETS THE BALL
Keider Montero starts the finale with a 9-8 record, a 3.55 ERA and 98 strikeouts.
Montero faces a Toronto lineup held to six singles Tuesday. The Blue Jays scored their only run in the eighth inning after Detroit had already built an eight-run lead.
Another steady outing would help protect a bullpen used throughout the opening two games. Detroit’s offense has given its pitchers early support during the winning streak, easing pressure on every inning.
Montero does not need to overpower Toronto. Avoiding walks, limiting traffic and keeping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. from changing the game with one swing would put Detroit in a strong position.
MAX SCHERZER FACES HIS FORMER TEAM
Toronto will counter with Max Scherzer, who enters at 2-8 with a 6.38 ERA and 51 strikeouts.
Scherzer spent his first five full Major League seasons with Detroit from 2010 through 2014. He won the 2013 American League Cy Young Award as a Tiger before signing with Washington.
This version of Scherzer has struggled to produce the same results. Detroit’s young lineup should force him to work, especially after drawing eight walks Tuesday.
Gleyber Torres, Kevin McGonigle and Riley Greene set the table ahead of Torkelson, Clark and Lee. Long at-bats near the top of the order would place immediate pressure on Scherzer and Toronto’s bullpen.
THE WILD CARD MARGIN IS STILL TIGHT
Detroit sits 4½ games outside the final American League Wild Card position with 11 games remaining.
The math offers little room for another extended stumble. Six consecutive wins have kept Detroit’s season alive, but the Tigers still need help from the teams ahead of them.
Winning remains the only part Detroit controls. Completing the sweep would send the Tigers into Chicago with seven straight victories and another full game removed from the schedule.
HOW TO WATCH TIGERS VS. BLUE JAYS
Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026
First pitch: 3:07 p.m. ET
Venue: Rogers Centre, Toronto
Television: Detroit SportsNet
Streaming: MLB.TV, subject to subscription and local restrictions
Probable pitchers: Keider Montero vs. Max Scherzer
WHAT TO WATCH
Detroit’s approach against Scherzer will set the tone. The Tigers drew walks, created traffic and punished mistakes Tuesday. Repeating those patient at-bats would give Montero valuable early support.
Torkelson also enters as the hitter to watch. His power changed Tuesday’s game, and his production in the middle of the order has helped turn Detroit’s late-season run into something worth following.
The Tigers already own the series. Today offers a chance to complete the job and keep September interesting.