Seattle @ Detroit preview
Comerica Park
Last Meeting ( May 26, 2010 ) Detroit 4, Seattle 5
For a brief moment, the Detroit Tigers finally sat on top of the American League Central, looking down at their frequent tormentors, the Minnesota Twins. Getting back to that position is the next goal.
The Tigers will be looking to snap a two-game slide when they open a three-game series against the lowly Seattle Mariners on Friday.
Mired in second place for much of this season after falling to the Twins in a one-game playoff at the end of last season, Detroit had its shot at overtaking their rivals in a three-game series early this week.
The Tigers took the opener 7-5 by beating Francisco Liriano, a win that vaulted them over Minnesota and into first place.
But the Tigers also suffered a major loss in the contest when intimidating setup man Joel Zumaya blew out his elbow throwing a pitch in the eighth inning. With that loss still fresh in its mind, Detroit dropped the final two games of the series by a combined score of 16-5 to fall 1 ½ games behind the Twins.
Miguel Cabrera had no trouble against Minnesota, however, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and driving in four runs in the series. The hefty first baseman ranks among the AL leaders in homers and RBIs and is likely headed to the All-Star Game in Anaheim on July 13.
Joining Cabrera in the middle of the lineup has been rookie Brennan Boesch, who might have a strong All-Star case of his own. Unheralded at the beginning of the season, Boesch continues to prove that his hot start is no sample-size fluke, hitting in each game against the Twins and batting .332 overall with a .982 OPS.
Cabrera and Boesch will be taking their swings against right-hander Doug Fister. The 26-year-old Fister came off the disabled list to face the Milwaukee Brewers last week and allowed four runs on five hits in four innings.
Prior to hitting the DL with right shoulder fatigue on June 1, Fister was leading the AL with a 2.45 ERA.
Fister faced the Tigers back on May 25, allowing three runs - two earned - and nine hits in a no-decision. Cabrera sat out that contest while Boesch went 1-for-4. Brandon Inge reached Fister for a solo homer and Austin Jackson doubled in a run off the right-hander.
Detroit will counter with right-hander Max Scherzer. The 25-year-old Scherzer has been hot lately, allowing one run on four hits against Arizona on June 20 and following that up with 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Atlanta last Saturday. He struck out eight in both outings.
Sherzer beat the Mariners on April 18, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out four in six innings.
Seattle dropped a 4-2 decision to the New York Yankees on Thursday when Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer off David Aardsma in the eighth. The Mariners had taken the first two games of the series behind strong starts by Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez.