A pair of American League teams in different situations on the next-to-last day of the regular season do battle in the Emerald City. The Detroit Tigers are on the road as they make the trip to face the Seattle Mariners in the third game of a four-game series and the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday night. Detroit took two of three from the Twins over the weekend, prevailing 5-2 at home in the rubber game of the series Sunday afternoon. Seattle ended up missing a chance at a sweep of the A’s as they were hammered 10-3 in the finale at home Sunday afternoon. This article was published prior to the conclusion of the series opener at T-Mobile Park Monday night, not to mention the first game of the doubleheader Tuesday evening.
Detroit took two of three from the Twins at home as they prevailed in the rubber game Sunday afternoon and entered Monday with 10 wins in their previous 12 games. The Tigers entered Monday fourth in the AL Central, 24.5 games behind the Guardians for the top spot in the division race. They have been eliminated from playoff contention. On Sunday, Detroit got two hits from Miguel Cabrera (RBI) while Eric Haase (his 14th) and Victor Reyes (his second) each homered in the victory. Joey Wentz didn’t factor in the decision as he threw 4.2 innings, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits with four walks and four strikeouts. Alex Lange (7-4) earned the win in relief with a scoreless eighth, striking out two while Gregory Soto fanned a pair in the ninth for his 30th save.
It is expected that Garrett Hill is on the mound for his 17th appearance and ninth start of th e season for the Tigers. He comes in 3-3 with a 3.84 ERA, a 1.33 WHIP, 29 walks and 38 strikeouts over 58.2 innings of work on the year. Hill didn’t factor in the decision in his last appearance, which came in relief against the Royals Wednesday at home. He threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits with two walks and three strikeouts in a game the Tigers won 2-1. In his last three appearances, all in relief, he has no record with a 0.00 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, four walks and five strikeouts over five innings of work. Hill didn’t factor in the decision in his lone career outing against the Mariners, which came at home on September 1. He threw three scoreless innings, allowing one hit with two walks and two strikeouts in a 7-0 Tigers defeat. Hill makes his first career appearance or start at T-Mobile Park in this, his 17th career major league appearance and ninth start.