Tigers at Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have had a rough time stringing victories together since their red-hot start to the season, but they will go after a fifth straight win Sunday afternoon when the major league-worst Detroit Tigers pay a visit. The Mariners, who won six in a row during their 13-2 start to the campaign, pounded out 16 hits in Saturday’s 8-1 triumph over Detroit and have scored 26 times during the current winning streak.
Catcher Omar Narvaez had four hits and 31-year-old newcomer Ryan Court went 2-for-5 with three RBIs in his second major league game Saturday for Seattle, which sits last in the American League West despite winning six of their last nine contests. The Mariners are expected to go with an opener in front of Tommy Milone, who has served up six homers combined in his last two appearances, and the Tigers turn to fellow left-hander and potential trade candidate Matthew Boyd. Detroit has plummeted to the bottom of the league by losing 31 of its last 36 games and have dropped the last five while managing just seven runs combined after scattering seven hits Saturday. Niko Goodrum is 9-for-27 during his seven-game hitting streak for the Tigers and teammate Brandon Dixon has 11 hits in 24 at-bats over his past seven contests.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, ROOT Northwest (Seattle)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (6-8, 4.07 ERA) vs. Mariners TBD
Boyd held Philadelphia to two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings with eight strikeouts Tuesday, although he was not involved in the decision in a 3-2 loss. The 28-year-old Oregon State product has managed just one win in his last nine starts, but completed at least six innings six times during that stretch. Boyd is 3-5 with a 4.81 ERA in 11 road starts and is 1-0 with a 3.46 mark in three career appearances (two starts) versus Seattle.
The Mariners did not immediately announce who would open the game on the mound, but Milone (1-5, 4.45 ERA) is likely to come on next after struggling in his last two outings. The 32-year-old USC product, who yielded 11 runs over 10 1/3 innings in his last two appearances, owns an 8.00 ERA in four games this month. Miguel Cabrera is 7-for-20 against Milone, who is 4-1 with a 3.43 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) versus the Tigers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Tigers are 1-14 against AL West opponents this year and have dropped 23 of their last 24 games against the division.
2. Seattle 3B Kyle Seager needs one hit to break the tie with Alvin Davis (1,163) for fifth on the team’s all-time hit list.
3. The Mariners claimed OF Keon Broxton from Baltimore and lost RHP Parker Markel to Pittsburgh on waivers Saturday.