Mariners at Tigers (Game 1)
Inclement weather continues to wreak havoc with the Detroit Tigers, who were hit with their eighth postponement of the season when Friday night's opener of a three-game series against the visiting Seattle Mariners was rained out. The teams will play a traditional doubleheader Saturday afternoon, with Game 2 set to start 30 minutes after the end of the 4:10 p.m. ET opener.
The Mariners have won five of six series to remain in contention in the American League West and improved to 13-7 away from home after taking two of three in Toronto. Kyle Seager's grand slam highlighted Seattle's 9-3 win on Thursday and Ryon Healy continued his power surge with his sixth homer in 11 games, giving him 12 RBIs in that span. Detroit is back home after concluding a 2-5 road trip with a 5-4 loss in Texas on Wednesday, a trek which saw four players land on the disabled list. The Tigers will send Matt Boyd and Michael Fulmer to the mound Saturday to face Marco Gonzales and Felix Hernandez.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Marco Gonzales (3-2, 5.19 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Matthew Boyd (1-3, 3.00)
After failing to get through five innings for three straight outings, Gonzalez pitched six frames for the third consecutive start in a no-decision versus the Los Angeles Angels, giving up four runs on nine hits. He won his previous two turns by allowing a combined two runs and 11 hits in road victories at Cleveland and the Chicago White Sox. Gonzalez has walked only six batters against 38 strikeouts.
Boyd matched his season high with seven innings but took the loss last time out at Kansas City after permitting four runs on six hits. While two of his three losses have come on the road, the 27-year-old has been outstanding in three starts at Comerica Park this season, posting a 1-1 mark and 1.47 ERA. Boyd has pitched at least six innings in five of his six starts and allowed one run four times.
WALK-OFFS
1. Mariners SS Jean Segura was 7-for-11 over the last two games.
2. Tigers CF JaCoby Jones was 5-for-31 on the seven-game road trip.
3. Mariners RF Mitch Haniger has RBIs in three straight games to boost his team-leading total to 30.