Seattle @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2013 ) Seattle 2, Detroit 6

Justin Verlander apparently has figured out why he has endured a sub-par season, and that could mean trouble for the opposition down the stretch - and beyond. "I feel like the last three starts, I've found what I really need to be working on and focusing on,'' said the 2011 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner, who takes the mound Wednesday as Detroit hosts the Seattle Mariners. While his numbers during that stretch - 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 1/3 innings - don't necessarily stand out, the Tigers are happy to have a confident Verlander as they bear down on their third straight AL Central title.

Detroit maintained its six-game lead over Cleveland with a 6-2 victory over Seattle on Tuesday and appears in great shape with all its remaining games being against teams with losing records - the Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota and Miami. Miguel Cabrera matched a career high with his 44th home run - his first since Aug. 26 - but his chances at a second straight Triple Crown were diminished further when Baltimore's Chris Davis hit his 51st. The Mariners, who have lost eight of their last nine games, give the ball to Hisashi Iwakuma and hope to give him a little more support than they have of late.

TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), FSN (Detroit)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6, 2.87 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Justin Verlander (13-11, 3.66)

Iwakuma has recorded four straight no-decisions as the Mariners have scored 11 runs during those starts. The 32-year-old Tokyo native pitched a combined 14 scoreless innings in two of them - including his last outing, when he yielded three hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss at St. Louis on Friday. Iwakuma blanked Detroit for six innings while allowing three hits on April 18 but received a no-decision in the Mariners' 2-0 victory.

Verlander averaged nearly 18 victories and nine losses over the past seven seasons, so it is understandable why expectations have not been met in 2013.
The 30-year-old allowed seven runs over 13 2/3 innings in splitting a pair of decisions with Kansas City in his last two starts but said a new grip on his curveball has been effective. Verlander is 9-7 with a 3.35 ERA in 16 starts against Seattle and has struggled with Kendrys Morales (8-for-21, home run, nine RBIs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Cabrera is hitting .350 - 19 points higher than the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout - and his 134 RBIs lead Davis by two.

2. Seattle's Raul Ibanez hit his 28th home run Tuesday to tie Barry Bonds, who hit 28 in 2007, for second-most in a season among players 40 or older. Ted Williams hit 29 in 1960 - his final campaign.

3. Detroit's magic number to win the Central is six.

PREDICTION: Tigers 3, Mariners 2