Tigers Look to Complete Sweep of Cardinals

Detroit seeks series win over St. Louis in Sunday night matchup.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 1:54pm

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The Detroit Tigers have won the first two games of their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals and will look to complete the sweep on Sunday night at Comerica Park. With veteran Justin Verlander scratched due to injury, 25-year-old Keider Montero will make his season debut for the Tigers, facing off against Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy.

Why it matters

The Tigers are hoping to build momentum early in the season with a series win over a tough NL opponent, while the Cardinals are looking to bounce back after dropping the first two games of the set.

The details

Montero had a rough spring training, posting a 9.00 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in two starts. However, his regular season numbers will be the focus as he takes the mound against Leahy, who struggled in his first outing of 2026, allowing 4 runs in 5 innings.

  • The series finale is scheduled for Sunday, April 5th at 7:20pm ET.
  • Verlander was originally slated to start but was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday.

The players

Keider Montero

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher making his season debut for the Tigers.

Kyle Leahy

The Cardinals' starting pitcher, looking to bounce back after a rough first outing of the year.

Justin Verlander

The veteran Tigers pitcher who was scratched from the series finale due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to seeing what Keider can do on the mound tonight. He had a tough spring, but we know he has the stuff to compete at this level.”

— A.J. Hinch, Tigers Manager

What’s next

If the Tigers complete the sweep, they will have a chance to move above .500 on the young season. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will look to rebound in their next series.

The takeaway

This series showcases the Tigers' young talent against a perennial NL contender, providing an early barometer for both teams as they aim to make noise in their respective divisions.