CLEVELAND – The first game of a doubleheader between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians was delayed because of rain at Progressive Field on Friday, Sept. 4.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 2:15 p.m. ET. More rain is expected Friday night, potentially impacting the second game of the doubleheader, which was set to start at 7:15 p.m.
But a window of dry weather is expected to open up mid-day, potentially allowing them to play at least one game Friday.
Tigers righty Keider Montero (9-8, 3.24) is scheduled to start the first game against lefty Logan Allen (0-0, 3.77).
The Tigers have lost 14 of their last 18 games dating to Aug. 14, the day after the Tigers won the rubber match of a three-game series against the Guardians in Detroit
to move into sole possession of the third wild card spot in the American League and 2.5 games out of first place in the American League Central.
Since the Guardians and Tigers last played, the Tigers have lost six series in a row dating to August 14-16, the club's longest winless series drought since a season-long eight-series losing streak from May 4-31.
Montero enters Friday as the only pitcher in baseball to reach both 22 starts and six relief appearances this season. He is only the third pitcher in the last 40 years to make at least 22 starts with at least six relief appearances exclusively in a Tigers uniform entering September, joining Anibal Sanchez in 2016 (22 GS/8 relief apps) and Dan Petry in 1990 (23 GS/6 relief).
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rain delays Game 1 of Tigers vs Guardians doubleheader
