The Seattle Mariners look to extend the Detroit Tigers’ woes later tonight as they pay Comerica Park a visit for the start of a four-game series. Read on for a breakdown of this game. Also check out our preview of Orioles vs. Rangers.
It’s back to famine for Nathan Karns, who failed for the third time to notch his first W this month despite an impressive performance last Wednesday. Karns tossed for five innings in a 3-2 loss to Tampa Bay in his last start, allowing just two earned runs on four hits while striking out eight batters. On the season, Karns is 5-2 with a 4.06 ERA in 13 starts thus far.
Karns, however, has been struggling with control, which explains why he hasn’t pitched past six innings in five of his last starts. During that stretch, he had issued 14 walks. With that said, there’ll be some pressure on the Mariners’ relievers, as they appear to factor earlier later tonight than usual. The Mariners’ bullpen is fifth in the majors in ERA (3.13) and eighth in FIP (3.68).
Karns is counting on Seattle’s offense to come alive following a mediocre output in the past two games in which the Mariners managed just three total runs, including a 2-1 loss to Boston on Sunday.
Catcher Chris Iannetta and first baseman Seth Smith could start in Game 1 of the series considering their outstanding career lines against Detroit starter Mike Pelfrey.
Iannetta is 7-for-15 with two homers against Pelfrey. Smith, meanwhile, is 7-for-17 and has four walks off the Tigers’ righty.
Detroit will look to stop its three-game skid later tonight when the Tigers welcome the Mariners at Comerica Park. The Tigers are 5-1 in their last six home games overall.
Detroit, which lost to the Royals 2-1 on Sunday, will have veteran Mile Pelfrey on the mound. Pelfrey has pitched against the Mariners just twice in his career, going 0-1 with a 2.03 ERA across 13.1 innings. In his most recent start, Pelfrey was clobbered for four earned runs on seven hits in six innings of a 5-3 road loss to the White Sox on June 15. He’ll look to do better at home, where he is 1-2 with an unsightly 5.51 ERA in six starts thus far this year.
Detroit’s hitters will have to ease some load off Pelfrey, who hasn’t been good lately. (Pelfrey is 1-2 with 4.34 ERA in three starts this June.) The Tigers made just nine runs in their last three games but are third in the American League in batting average this June with a .269 clip.
Miguel Cabrera has hit 11-for-28 (.393) with two homers and five RBI in the last six games, while Justin Upton is 9-for-29 (.310) with 11 RBI during that same stretch. Upton is also 3-for-3 lifetime against Karns.
The Tigers are 3-0 in Pelfrey’s last three home starts.
