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Mariners-Tigers Preview

Jul 3, 2010 - 4:19 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (33-45) at Detroit (41-36), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Detroit Tigers have been criticized for not facing the toughest of opponents at Comerica Park over the past month. They still have to go out and beat those teams, however, and they've been up to the task.

The Tigers, who could be without Miguel Cabrera for a second straight game, look to continue their home dominance Saturday night against the Seattle Mariners.

After a 3-6 road trip, Detroit (42-36) opened a nine-game homestand that leads into the All-Star break with Friday's 7-1 win over Seattle. Losers of 12 of 17 away from Comerica but winners of 11 of 12 at home, the Tigers remain one game behind AL Central-leading Minnesota.

In addition to the win over the Mariners (33-46), who are 13-28 away from Seattle, the home hot streak includes victories over Arizona, Washington, Pittsburgh and Cleveland. All five opponents are last in their respective divisions.

"I don't think there's any rollovers in the big leagues," said Detroit outfielder Brennan Boesch, who is batting .340 and leads all rookies with 12 homers and 46 RBIs. "Every team has a chance to win if they play their best baseball. I think it just depends on who comes out and plays hard and who grinds it out better, no matter who we're playing. I don't think there's any pushovers around here."

Boesch had three hits, drove in a run and scored Friday. Don Kelly, filling in at first base for Cabrera after the slugger was scratched due to back pain, had a two-run double.

Cabrera, who entered the weekend tied for the major league lead with 20 homers and 68 RBIs, is uncertain for this game.

The Tigers are an AL-best 28-9 at Comerica, with Saturday's scheduled starter Justin Verlander (9-5, 4.02 ERA) instrumental to that success.

Verlander is 4-2 with a 1.90 ERA in his last six outings in Detroit, but has struggled recently against Seattle, posting a 4.85 ERA while losing his last four starts versus the Mariners. In two starts at Seattle this year, he allowed eight runs in 14 1-3 innings.

The right-hander gave up four runs in seven innings of a 10-4 win Sunday at Atlanta, his fourth victory in five starts.

The Mariners counter with Jason Vargas (6-3, 2.80), who looks to bounce back from his first loss in two months.

Vargas allowed three runs and seven hits in five innings of a 3-0 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday. The left-hander had been 4-0 with a 2.11 ERA in nine outings since a loss to Tampa Bay on May 4.

Despite Sunday's outcome, Vargas allowed three earned runs or fewer for his 14th consecutive start. One of those outings came against the Tigers on May 26, when he gave up two runs in five innings but didn't get credit for Seattle's 5-4 win.

Vargas is 1-4 with an 8.31 ERA - easily his worst of any month - in 13 career July outings.