Matt Vierling, Jake Rogers impact Detroit Tigers roster after injuries
The Days of Roar podcast explores how the Detroit Tigers’ roster could shift with Jake Rogers and Matt Vierling returning from the injured list.
Riley Greene is an All-Star player, but he has struggled at the plate in three areas during the 2025 season: strikeouts, left-handed pitchers and key situations. He entered Monday, May 26, leading the American League with 65 strikeouts, while batting just .164 against lefties and .217 with runners in scoring positions.
The 24-year-old stepped up when the Detroit Tigers needed him most in the fifth inning of Monday’s game against the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park, delivering a two-run single off left-handed reliever Erik Miller with the bases loaded.
The Tigers ended up winning, 3-1.
In the fifth, Greene fell behind 0-2 in the count with back-to-back called strikes, then he flicked a down-and-away slider into right field for two runs — driving in Kerry Carpenter from third base and Gleyber Torres from second base.
The Tigers (35-20) have won back-to-back games after losing three games in a row — another reminder of why they have the best record in the American League.
Although Greene delivered the big hit, right-hander Keider Montero guided the Tigers to success with five scoreless innings in his seventh game (fifth start). The Giants managed just one hit and two walks against him, while striking out three times.
He has a 4.54 ERA.
The lone hit: Jung Hoo Lee — the third batter of the game — singled to left field. After that, Montero retired 13 batters in a row before Patrick Bailey’s walk in the fifth inning.
Montero, who threw 54 of 79 pitches for strikes, benefitted from an outstanding (and consistent) slider, which generated four of his six whiffs.
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The first run
The Tigers had a hit in the first inning, then the bats went quiet until the fourth inning, when Colt Keith — who doubled in the first — produced a leadoff single. Spencer Torkelson followed suit with a single, advancing Keith into scoring position.
With two outs, Dillon Dingler landed the first of three punches by the Tigers’ offense. He hit a two-strike curveball below the strike zone into left field for an RBI single.
An aggressive send from third base coach Joey Cora challenged the throwing arm of left fielder Luis Matos, with Keith sliding home safely. The throw was on time, but the ball skipped past the glove of the catcher.
That’s how the Tigers took a 1-0 lead.
Facing the bullpen
The Giants scored their lone run in the sixth inning, when Wilmer Flores hit an RBI single off right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee. Before that, lefty reliever Tyler Holton allowed back-to-back singles to Matt Chapman and Lee.
The run was charged to Holton.
The Giants cut the Tigers’ lead to 3-1 — but they didn’t score in the seventh, eighth or ninth innings.
Three right-handed relievers worked those scoreless innings: Beau Brieske in the seventh, Tommy Kahnle in the eighth and Will Vest in the ninth.
Vest has six saves in eight opportunities.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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