Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners

The AL Central leading Detroit Tigers seemed to leave their bats on vacation as they returned from the All-Star game to tally five total runs in a three-game series with the New York Yankees in the Bronx.

The Detroit Tigers (48-42) had terrific pitching, most notably from All-Stars Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson, but each received exactly one run of support as each took tough losses over the weekend. Detroit batters were 1-of-26 with runners in scoring position in the usually hitting friendly atmosphere of Yankee Stadium.

It has been par for the course on the road, where the Tigers have not won a road series since June 8-11 when they took three out of five games in a series, against the Chicago White Sox, that included a double-header.

That series win was fortunate for Detroit now that their lead in the AL Central has withered away to one game over the hard charging White Sox.

Detroit returns to Comerica Park, which should rejuvenate their bats and their confidence. The Tigers have lost just three series at home this season and not since being swept by the Boston Red Sox in early June.

The Tigers have played the least amount of home games in the league and have made the best of their few trips home by going 27-13, second in the league.

They open a six-game home stand which will feature a visit from Chicago later in the week, but starts with the red-hot Seattle Mariners (49-43), coming off winning three straight over the Cleveland Indians and taking three of four from the then-first place Texas Rangers prior to the All-Star break.

The Seattle Mariners are also 6-2 in their last eight road games, but dropped two of three to the Tigers in Seattle from April 17-19.

To keep their winning ways going, Seattle turns to Garrett Olson (3-3, 4.53) attempting to rebound from a tough performance when he allowed three runs on five hits and three walks and did not survive the second inning in the 4-1 Seattle loss to Cleveland on Thursday.

He was also blasted by Detroit and unable to survive past the second inning in Comerica last August 17 when he allowed five runs in an inning plus.

Detroit turns to Rick Porcello (8-6, 4.14), who has enjoyed a long rest since his last start. Manager Jim Leyland hopes it will keep the rookie fresh and turn around the 9.72 ERA he has posted in his prior two starts.

Porcello earned his first career win in Seattle by allowing one run on five hits in an 8-2 win on April 19.

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