← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 16, 2026
Detroit Tigers
72-79 · 3rd in AL Central, 5 GB
Bats heating up
RHP Keider Montero · Pitches to contact
@
Toronto Blue Jays
75-77 · 4th in AL East, 17 GB
Bats heating up
RHP Max Scherzer · Pitches to contact
MLB · Rogers Centre · 12:07 PM PT

Team Identity

Detroit Tigers
Season-to-date, 150 games, 5,860 PA.
A patient offense that works counts and draws walks, though it can be station-to-station. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Average52
Contact
Below Avg34
Plate Discipline
Above Avg72
Speed
Well Below13
RISP
Well Below24
Recent Form
Trending Up
Walk rate is up 18% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Toronto Blue Jays
Season-to-date, 151 games, 5,782 PA.
A contact-oriented offense that puts the ball in play and avoids empty at-bats, though it can be free-swinging. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Below Avg27
Contact
Above Avg83
Plate Discipline
Well Below18
Speed
Average50
RISP
Well Below24
Recent Form
Trending Up
Total bases per PA is up 20% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Blue Jays bring the more contact-oriented profile, while Tigers lean on being patient.

Swing Factor

Keider Montero strikes hitters out at a 16.4% clip (15th percentile); Blue Jays carry a 18.7% strikeout rate.

Momentum

Tigers are trending up and Blue Jays are trending up over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Keider Montero miss enough bats?
Keider Montero strikes hitters out at a 16.4% clip (15th percentile); Blue Jays carry a 18.7% strikeout rate.
Edge · Blue JaysKeider Montero: 16.4% K rateBlue Jays: 18.7% K rateHigh confidence
Can Max Scherzer miss enough bats?
Max Scherzer strikes hitters out at a 16.3% clip (15th percentile); Tigers carry a 22.2% strikeout rate.
Edge · TigersMax Scherzer: 16.3% K rateTigers: 22.2% K rateHigh confidence
Can Keider Montero command the strike zone?
Blue Jays walk in 7.3% of trips; Keider Montero allows walks sparingly (5.7%).
Edge · Keider MonteroBlue Jays: 7.3% walk rateKeider Montero: 5.7% walks allowedHigh confidence
Can Max Scherzer limit Tigers' power?
Tigers rank in the 52nd percentile in extra-base production, while Max Scherzer sits in the 23rd percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · TigersTigers: 0.344 TB/PAMax Scherzer: 0.381 TB/PA allowed (307 PA)High confidence
Can Keider Montero limit Blue Jays' power?
Blue Jays rank in the 27th percentile in extra-base production, while Keider Montero sits in the 54th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · Keider MonteroBlue Jays: 0.341 TB/PAKeider Montero: 0.329 TB/PA allowed (599 PA)High confidence

Pitcher Trends

Keider Montero
Keider Montero
Detroit Tigers · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts2.5/start
Hits allowed4.6/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 5 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 4 of last 6
16% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.
Max Scherzer
Max Scherzer
Toronto Blue Jays · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts4.1/start
Hits allowed4.2/start
4 or fewer Strikeouts — 5 of last 65 or fewer Hits Allowed — 5 of last 6
16% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Riley Greene
Riley Greene
Detroit Tigers · 0.439 hit rate · 0.878 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L107 / 10L2513 / 254-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 138% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 20%.
Kazuma Okamoto
Kazuma Okamoto
Toronto Blue Jays · 0.310 hit rate · 0.738 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2519 / 254-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 92% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 19%.
Dillon Dingler
Dillon Dingler
Detroit Tigers · 0.156 hit rate · 0.281 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L107 / 10L2514 / 25
On-base rate is down 49% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 8 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
Brett Callahan
Brett Callahan
Detroit Tigers · 0.158 hit rate · 0.263 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L105 / 10L2511 / 21
Total bases per PA is down 30% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 7 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 53%.
Ernie Clement
Ernie Clement
Toronto Blue Jays · 0.189 hit rate · 0.243 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L53 / 5L106 / 10L2514 / 25
Total bases per PA is down 33% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 10 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

84
Riley Greene
Riley Greene
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
77
Alejandro Kirk
Alejandro Kirk
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
75
Brett Bateman
Brett Bateman
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Kevin McGonigle
Kevin McGonigle
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
74
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
1+ Hit
Toronto Blue Jays
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
71
Max Clark
Max Clark
1+ Hit
Detroit Tigers
Why it stands out
Low recent strikeout rate
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted

Expected Game Shape

BalancedLow confidence

Competitive profile without a clear stylistic tilt. Tigers bring more power.

Early edge Tigers Driver No single dominant factor Volatility Moderate
  • Both probable starters grade around the 44th percentile in combined suppression.
  • Tigers are trending up; Blue Jays are trending up.

Storylines to Watch

Is Riley Greene the one to watch?
Riley Greene enters as Tigers' hottest bat. Total bases per PA is up 138% over his prior baseline, with hits in 7 of his last 9 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 20%.
0.439 hit rate · 0.878 TB/PA · 0.224 hit rate · 0.370 TB/PA
Can Dillon Dingler snap out of it?
Dillon Dingler has cooled off. On-base rate is down 49% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 8 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 38%.
0.156 hit rate · 0.281 TB/PA · 0.220 hit rate · 0.412 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-16, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.