Game 44 Preview: Tigers try to avoid sweep at Mets on Thursday afternoon

The Detroit Tigers let one get away on Wednesday after the offense once again struggled to get things going, spoiling a strong performance by the pitching staff. Alas, two runs were not going to get the job done that night, as the New York Mets used a seventh-inning run to tie the game and ultimately force extra innings.

The Tigers would end up losing, 3-2, in the 10th inning.

Detroit can still prevent a sweep on Thursday afternoon behind the current de facto No. 2 starter on the pitching staff, right-hander Keider Montero, who has more than filled in the shoes left vacant by an ailing Justin Verlander. The 25-year-old has turned in two straight quality starts, over which he put up a 1.42 ERA and 3.91 FIP over 12 2/3 innings with a win to show for.

Montero is meeting the Mets for the first time on Thursday.

Going up against him is young phenom right-hander Nolan McLean, who has given his team a healthy serving of much-needed quality innings so far this season. The 24-year-old has given up at least one run in all eight of his starts, but consistently puts up robust strikeout numbers while not walking more than two in any of his appearances.

McLean has faced the Tigers once before — last year on Sept. 2 in Detroit, when he threw a quality start by allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over six innings for the win.

Take a look below at how the battle on the mound shakes out for Thursday afternoon’s matinee.

Detroit Tigers (19-24) vs. New York Mets (17-25)