Tigers lineup: Tyler Holton will be opener on Saturday

DETROIT — After winning the series opener with their ace, the Detroit Tigers will try to win Game 2 with an opener.

The Tigers (42-23) and Chicago Cubs (39-24) meet again on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. at Comerica Park.

The Tigers won on Friday night behind the strong start of Tarik Skubal. They’ll use an opener for Saturday’s game.

Catcher Dillon Dingler, infielder Colt Keith, infielder/outfielder Javier Baez and outfielder Jahmai Jones will be available off the bench. The full lineup is below.

Tigers right-hander Keider Montero (2-1, 4.02 ERA) will pitch behind lefty opener Tyler Holton (2-2, 4.13).

Right-hander Jameson Taillon (5-3, 3.76) will start for the Cubs.

Montero has made back-to-back scoreless starts, including 4 2/3 innings on June 1 at Kansas City.

Taillon, 33, is in the third season of a four-year, $68 million deal he signed with the Cubs before the 2023 season.

This will be just his second career start at Comerica Park. He gave up a grand slam to Kerry Carpenter in a no-decision on Aug. 23, 2023.

The original plan was to have Montero make a traditional start. Why the switch to an opener?

“Happ and Tucker at the top. Happ is dangerous on both sides, but generally speaking, we prefer him to be right-handed. And Tucker — some days I think it matters, some days I don’t think it matters who you throw up there against Tuck,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “We knew they’d have a balanced lineup. We know they’re tough against lefties. But we can give them a bunch of different looks and insert Keider when we want.”