The Detroit Tigers’ offense is supposed to suffer because of Miguel Cabrera’s long absence, right? Well, not if J.D. Martinez and company are hitting as great as they’ve been of late. After scoring a big 12-5 win versus Seattle (38-45) on Monday, the Tigers have certainly sent a strong message to Mariners starter Taijuan Walker. Will the Cabrera-less Tigers keep on crushing? Or will Seattle’s right-hander sustain his impressive run and silence Detroit’s offense?
For more MLB previews, you can click here for a breakdown of tonight’s matchup between the Angels and the Rockies.
[sc:MLBArticles ]Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners Preview
Where: Safeco Field, Seattle
When: Tuesday, July 7, 2015, 10:10 PM ET
Line: Detroit Tigers (+149) vs. Seattle Mariners (-164); total: 7.5 – view all MLB lines
Betting on the Detroit Tigers
[sc:MLB240banner ]Another start awaits Kyle Ryan (1-2, 4.55 ERA), who, despite a glaring inability to find the strike zone in his recent start, will be handed the ball when Detroit takes on the Mariners later tonight.
In his fourth start this season, Ryan failed to get past the fourth inning as he allowed two runs on three hits and walked five batters in the Tigers’ 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh on July 2. Ryan could’ve avoided picking up a loss in that game, though, if only Detroit’s relievers didn’t pitch as if it’s 2014—when the team had one of the worst bullpen in the majors. In the Pirates game, four Detroit relievers gave up five earned total runs with Bruce Rendon accounting for five of those scores.
Ryan hasn’t pitched past four innings in any of his last five appearances. If he goes short again, then Detroit will go have no choice but to go early to its bullpen, which has put up a discouraging 5.44 ERA over the last two weeks.
With Detroit’s pitching staff not looking good entering tonight’s contest, there will be added pressure for the team’s offense to show up. J.D. Martinez, who is on quite a tear of late, is hitting 11-for-24 (.458) with four homers and 10 RBIs over his last seven games. Ian Kinsler, meanwhile, is 10-for-30 (.333) with two doubles and six RBIs during the same span.
The over is 2-0 in Ryan’s last two starts overall.
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Betting on the Seattle Mariners
Whatever it is that Taijuan Walker (7-6, 4.34 ERA) has been taking over the past few weeks has certainly solved the righty’s woes. Ever since he gave up four runs in back-to-back fashion last May to raise his ERA to 7.33, Walker has turned things right around, going 6-1 with a 1.68 ERA in his next seven starts.
That stretch includes yet another impressive outing on July 1, when he tossed seven scoreless innings and allowed just one hit while striking out seven in the Mariners’ 7-0 win at San Diego. Still, even a Miguel Cabrera-less Detroit team is a stiff challenge for Walker, who’s going to need some breathing room to operate well later tonight. The Tigers are averaging 4.43 runs per game this season, sixth overall in the majors.
Brad Miller has been productive over his last seven games, as he is 6-for-19 (.316) with two homers and four RBIs over that stretch. Batting in front of Miller are Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, who are batting .308 and .269 in their past seven games, respectively.
The under is 4-1 in Walker’s last five home starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Detroit (+164) wins, 6-4.
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