Things are going from bad to worse for the Detroit Tigers as they dropped their second consecutive game Sunday with a humiliating loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The Tigers will look to get their season back on track when they take on the Seattle Mariners in their series opener tonight.
Read on below for a breakdown of this American League matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Kansas City Royals.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Seattle Mariners vs. Detroit Tigers Preview
Where: Comerica Park, Detroit
When: Monday, July 20, 7:08 PM ET
Line: Seattle Mariners (EVEN) at Detroit Tigers (-110); total: 9.0 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners stumbled to yet another defeat Sunday with a gut-wrenching loss to the New York Yankees. The Mariners wasted another great pitching performance from Felix Hernandez as the Yankees escaped with a narrow 2-1 victory. With the loss, the Mariners dropped to the bottom of the AL West standings with a woeful 42-50 record.
[sc:MLB240banner ]The Mariners will look to return to winning ways tonight when they face the Detroit Tigers. Starting for the Mariners this evening is left-hander J.A. Happ (4-5, 4.14 ERA). He hasn’t pitched since July 8, when he gave up four runs and seven hits while walking three in four innings of Seattle’s 5-4 defeat to Detroit. He has clearly struggled for the Mariners of late, going 1-4 with a 5.93 ERA in his last six starts. He’s 1-0 with a 3.66 ERA in four games against the Tigers.
Expected to lead the Mariners’ offense tonight against the Tigers is Robinson Cano. The second baseman has fared exceptionally well against Detroit starter Alfredo Simon in the past, going 4-of-9 (.444) lifetime against the right-hander. Cano is hitting 3-for-11 with two homers and four RBIs since the All-Star break.
The total has gone under in the Mariners’ last five road games.
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Betting on the Detroit Tigers
Detroit’s losing woes show no sign of abating as the Tigers suffered an embarrassing 9-3 defeat to the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday. The Tigers have now lost five of their last six games as they dropped down to 45-46 in the American League Central standings. The Tigers were last under .500 in the second half when they were 80-81 near the end of the 2010 season. They haven’t finished a season below .500 since going 74-88 back in 2008.
For the Tigers to snap their losing skid tonight, they need a solid pitching performance from starter Alfredo Simon (8-6, 4.53 ERA). He struggled mightily in his last start, allowing 10 hits and seven runs, five of which were earned, in 2.1 innings of work against Minnesota. Simon has now surrendered 33 hits over his last three starts, spanning just 13 2/3 innings. The right-hander is the only starter in baseball to allow five or more earned runs in five consecutive appearances this season. He has an 11.12 ERA over his last five starts.
Given Simon’s struggles, the onus is on the Detroit hitters to get their bats going in the series opener. Leading the way for the Tigers tonight is the red-hot Jose Iglesias. He is hitting 5-for-10 with a homer and three RBIs since the All-Star break. He is 1-of-1 lifetime against Seattle starter J.A. Happ with a walk and one RBI.
The Tigers are 4-6 in their last 10 home games.
Writer’s Prediction
Detroit (-110) wins, 6-4.
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