Mariners at Tigers (Game 2)
Inclement weather continues to wreak havoc with the Detroit Tigers, who were hit with their eighth postponmeent 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: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT Northwest (Seattle), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Félix Hernández (4-3, 5.28 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Michael Fulmer (1-2, 3.51)
Hernandez was denied in his bid to win his third consecutive start, giving up five runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the Los Angeles Angels last time out. The former Cy Young Award winner has struggled to keep the ball in the park, surrendering nine home runs in only 44 1/3 innings. Victor Martinez is 9-for-27 against Hernandez, who is 9-4 with a 2.79 ERA in 16 starts versus Detroit.
Fulmer wound up with his fourth straight no-decision last time out, although it was his only dud in that stretch after he was tagged for five runs over 5 2/3 innings at Texas. He deserved a better fate in his previous three turns, allowing a combined four runs and 18 hits over 19 innings. Fulmer is 0-1 in two starts against the Mariners despite a 2.38 ERA and has held Robinson Cano to 0-for-5.
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.