Troy Melton to Start for Tigers in Crucial Match Against Guardians

CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers have confirmed that rookie right-hander Troy Melton will take the mound for the decisive game against the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at Progressive Field. This matchup marks the finale of a three-game series, and it holds significant implications for the Tigers’ aspirations in the American League Central. A loss could severely diminish their playoff hopes.

Following a disappointing 5-1 defeat on Wednesday, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We got to sort it out, so it’ll be a long night,” he stated when addressing the pitching strategy for the upcoming game.

Melton, who made his Major League Baseball debut in late July, has shown promise this season with a 2.79 ERA, accumulating 35 strikeouts and 13 walks over 42 innings across 15 games, including three starts. Despite his strong numbers, Melton has faced challenges in recent outings, having not pitched more than three innings since August 8 and limited to fewer than 50 pitches since August 13. This raises questions about the Tigers’ strategy for utilizing him in Thursday’s game.

While Melton began his time with the Tigers as a starter, the team shifted him to a bullpen role shortly after his initial starts. The Tigers believed that his fastball, which averages 96.7 mph with a 31.9% whiff rate, could be more effective if he pitched multiple times a week as a reliever rather than once a week as a starter. Nevertheless, he has struggled in his recent bullpen appearances, registering a 4.50 ERA in his last five games, with six walks and seven strikeouts over 10 innings. This follows an impressive stretch where he posted a 0.67 ERA in his preceding nine games.

In a recent outing against the Guardians on September 18, Melton allowed two runs in just 1.2 innings, both of which came from a home run hit by José Ramírez during a 3-1 loss at Comerica Park. As the Tigers prepare for Thursday’s critical game, fans and analysts will be closely watching how Melton performs under pressure.

This article will be updated as more information becomes available. For further insights, contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @EvanPetzold. Fans can also tune into the weekly Tigers podcast, “Days of Roar,” available on platforms like Apple and Spotify.