Mike Montgomery likely didn't expect to pitch in the minors for nearly seven years before getting his shot with a major league club after the Kansas City Royals selected him in the first round of the 2008 draft.
The 25-year-old is making the most of his opportunity with the Seattle Mariners, and he now gets a chance to show another club that gave up on him what they're missing.
Montgomery makes his fifth career start Tuesday night, but the Mariners could be without Nelson Cruz as they look to get their offense going against the visiting Royals.
After four years in Kansas City's system, Montgomery was dealt to Tampa Bay in the deal that brought James Shields to the Royals in December 2012. The left-hander then pitched two seasons with the Rays' minor league affiliates before being traded to Seattle (32-39) for Erasmo Ramirez on March 31.
An injury to James Paxton opened up a spot for Montgomery (1-2, 2.73 ERA), who made his major league debut June 2 and allowed four runs in 19 innings over his first three starts, including allowing two runs in seven innings against the Rays on June 7.
The left-hander had his longest outing Thursday, giving up four runs in 7 1/3 innings of a 7-0 loss to San Francisco. Montgomery allowed three runs and four of his seven hits in the second before being charged with another run in the eighth after leaving.
"He's been a very pleasant surprise," manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's had four starts that I would consider very quality starts. Certainly gave us an opportunity to win the ballgame (Thursday), we just didn't get any hits."
That especially was the case in Monday's 4-1 loss to the Royals (40-27). Robinson Cano homered in the first inning, and the Mariners' only other hit was a leadoff double by Austin Jackson in the seventh.
Cruz, hitting .313 with 19 homers and 44 RBIs to lead the club in each category, was lifted for pinch-hitter Dustin Ackley in the seventh. Seattle originally said Cruz left because of hamstring tightness, but later stated that he popped his pelvic bone out of place.
It's unclear if Cruz will be in the lineup for this contest.
"They got it popped back in and he is OK now. We'll see how he feels tomorrow," McClendon said.
Ackley took over in left field for Cruz after striking out. He's often found himself out of the lineup while batting just .189, but he's 6 for 10 with two homers and three doubles lifetime against Jeremy Guthrie, who takes the hill for Kansas City.
The Mariners have hit Guthrie (5-4, 5.55) hard in recent years, as he's gone 0-2 with a 9.82 ERA in his last four starts against Seattle. He most recently allowed seven runs in 4 2/3 innings of Kansas City's 9-7 win May 11, 2014.
Guthrie, though, is 1-1 with a 3.13 ERA over his last four starts after allowing two runs in six innings of Thursday's 3-2 win over Milwaukee. Manager Ned Yost opted to go to the bullpen for the final three innings despite Guthrie having thrown just 67 pitches.
The right-hander's ERA has dropped more than a full run since it ballooned to 6.70 on May 25 after he allowed a career-worst 11 runs in a loss to the New York Yankees.
Guthrie looks to help the Royals win for the seventh time in 10 games after Alcides Escobar finished with three hits in Monday's victory to improve to 14 for 32 over his last eight.
Kansas City had lost seven of the previous nine meetings.
