Detroit Tigers (22-31) PK, 9 1/2 at Seattle Mariners (20-34), 10:10 pm Eastern Fridayby Zman of Predictem.com
Two of the bigger disappointments of the early going of this season in the American League hook up when the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners commence a three-game weekend series Friday night in the Great Northwest.
MLB Sportsbooks are listing this game at right around a pick ’em, with a total of 9 1/2.
The Tigers just dropped two of three games to the Angels in LA, despite outscoring them 8-6. So going into this weekend’s action, Detroit sits in fourth place in the AL Central, eight games behind the division-leading Chicago White Sox.
Seattle has won two straight games since breaking a seven-game losing streak. So heading into Friday’s play, the Ms are mired in last place in the AL West, 11 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels.
Detroit is 10-17 on the road this year, and 26-27 vs. the run line.
Seattle is 13-14 at home this season, 21-32 vs. the run line.
In the first meeting this year between these two teams, the Tigers swept three games from the Ms in Detroit last week, and all three games went over their totals, as the Kitties outscored Seattle 30-14. Last year, the Tigers took six of 10 games from the Mariners, while the totals went 7-2-1, as the games averaged 11.5 total runs per.
Detroit starter Nate Robertson (2-5, 5.88) has allowed nine ER and 30 baserunners over his last three starts, covering 19 IP. The Tigers are 3-7 in Robertson’s starts this year, the totals 5-5.
Robertson started twice vs. Seattle last year, giving up 10 ER and 20 BR in 9 1/3 innings of work. The Tigers lost both those games, and they both went over their totals.
Mariners starter Carlos Silva (3-4, 5.14) has been terrible recently, allowing 14 ER and 27 BR in his last three starts, covering 16 1/3 IP. The Mariners are 5-6 in Silva’s starts this year, the totals 4-5.
Silva started twice vs. the Tigers last year as a member of the Minnesota Twins, and once for Seattle this season, giving up 10 ER and 27 BR in 17 2/3 IP.
Detroit ranks 10th in the majors in team batting at .264, 11th in team OBP at .335, 8th in team slugging at .424, and is averaging 4.8 runs per game.
Seattle ranks 24nd in batting at .249, dead last in OBP at .307, 24th in slugging at .380, and is averaging 4.0 RPG.
The Detroit bullpen has allowed seven ER and 23 BR over its last five games, covering 11 IP.
The Mariners pen has given up six ER and 21 BR over its last five games, covering 9 1/3 IP.
On the injury front, Detroit 3B Carlos Guillen is listed as questionable/doubtful for Friday’s game with a lower body injury. And OF Gary Sheffield is already on the DL with a strained oblique.
The Tigers last four games have all stayed under their totals, which are now 22-27 in Detroit games this year. The totals are 24-27 in Mariners games this year.
Zman’s Pick: Despite these cruddy dud pitchers going tonight, we like the UNDER 9.5 runs at the spacious Safeco Field. Silva is a much better pitcher in Seattle.