GDT152: 9/18/13 - DET (88-63) VS SEA (66-85) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Justin Verlander (13-11, 3.66 ERA)

Verlander said he's getting pretty close to feeling like his dominant self. While his goal is to be at his best by the postseason, he's 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings over his last three starts.



Mariners: RHP Hisashi Iwakuma (12-6, 2.87 ERA)

Iwakuma has emerged as one of the AL's top starters in his first full season in the rotation, but lack of run support has led to four straight no-decisions, including a seven-inning scoreless stint in his last outing at St. Louis.




Tigers aim to get closer to title behind Verlander
Iwakuma takes hill for Mariners, looking to play spoiler

By William Boor / MLB.com | 9/17/2013 6:03 PM ET

Wednesday's game between the Mariners and Tigers features two teams with different mindsets and a pair of pitchers that have been throwing the ball well.

While the Mariners are striving for a strong finish to a disappointing season, the Tigers are getting ready for an apparent postseason berth.

Justin Verlander has not been his usual self this season, but Detroit's right-hander has a 3.05 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings over his last three starts.

Verlander has pitched better of late and hopes to return to form for the postseason. The Tigers' magic number to clinch the American League Central is six.

"I felt good, stuff was good," Verlander said after his last start. "That was the main thing I've been working on, is getting my stuff back to where it needs to be and worrying about executing it and honing it in."

Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma isn't prepping for a postseason run, but the right-hander is looking to build upon the career-high 203 2/3 innings he has pitched this season.

"I'm very happy about that, because this is one of my goals, to stay healthy and stay in the rotation for a long time," Iwakuma said through translator Antony Suzuki. "I feel pretty good right now. At times I've felt a little fatigued during the season, but right now I feel better."

The right-hander will also be looking for his first win since Aug. 21, as a lack in run support has stuck him with four straight no decisions.

Tigers: Scherzer reaches 200 innings mark
For three straight seasons Max Scherzer approached 200 innings, but never reached it.

However, after tossing seven innings on Sunday, Scherzer reached the 200 innings mark this season.

"To be able to get 200 innings is an important plateau, because that's just a sign of a pitcher pitching deep into a game and giving your team a chance to win," Scherzer said. "That's something I haven't necessarily accomplished with the 200 innings, but obviously this year I've pitched well and deep into games."

In addition to reaching 200 innings, Scherzer also surpassed 1,000 career innings on Sunday.



Mariners: Ibanez to return next season
Raul Ibanez is 41 years old and his production has slipped in the second half of the season, but the veteran does not have any intention to call it quits during the offseason.

"Yeah, I want to play another year," Ibanez said. "It's not something I really dwell upon, it's not something I mull over and lose sleep over, because I'm in the moment right now. But yeah, if you asked me right now, I definitely want to play another year."

Ibanez will be a free agent when the season concludes and said that his health is not a concern going forward.

"Physically, I feel I can play for -- I don't want to sound wrong -- but kind of 'til I want to physically," Ibanez said. "Mentally, it's a grind and that part becomes harder as you get older. Staying locked in for six months in a row becomes harder. But, I feel I can play this game physically for a while, I guess. That doesn't mean I will, but I feel like I can."

Worth noting
• Mariners shortstop Brad Miller will likely miss the entire series against the Tigers with a left hamstring strain.

The strain is minor and Miller took batting practice Tuesday.




William Boor is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.




INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.)





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• THU, Sep 19:
TIGERS: (RHP Doug Fister (12-9, 3.67 ERA)) VS
MARINERS (LHP James Paxton (2-0, 0.75 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• FRI, Sep 20:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (19-3, 2.95 ERA)) VS
WHITE SOX (RHP Andre Rienzo (2-2, 5.04 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Sep 21:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.45 ERA)) VS
WHITE SOX (LHP Chris Sale (11-13, 3.08 ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 22:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (14-7, 2.51 ERA)) VS
WHITE SOX (RHP Erik Johnson (1-2, 2.87 ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS (career numbers against Iwakuma)

   Austin Jackson, CF (0-for-4, K)
   Don Kelly, RF (0-for-2)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B (1-for-3)
   Prince Fielder, 1B (2-for-4, K)
   Victor Martinez, DH (0-for-1, walk)
   Matt Tuiasosopo, LF
   Alex Avila, C (0-for-4, K)
   Hernan Perez, 2B
   Jose Iglesias, SS (1-for-2, K)

P: Justin Verlander

MARINERS (career numbers against Verlander)

   Dustin Ackley, CF (2-for-6, 2 K’s)
   Franklin Gutierrez, RF (9-for-35, 2 HR, 2 walks, 10 K’s)
   Kyle Seager, 3B (3-for-4)
   Kendrys Morales, DH (8-for-21, HR, 5 K’s)
   Justin Smoak, 1B (3-for-8, HR, walk, 5 K’s)
   Michael Saunders, LF (2-for-14, 4 K’s)
   Nick Franklin, 2B
   Henry Blanco, C (1-for-3)
   Carlos Triunfel, SS

P: Hisashi Iwakuma

Seattle - Top of 1st
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
D Ackley walked.
F Gutierrez flied out to left.
K Seager flied out to left.
K Morales struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 1st
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
A Jackson grounded out to third.
D Kelly reached on infield single to second.
M Cabrera flied out to center.
P Fielder doubled to shallow left, D Kelly to third.
V Martinez intentionally walked.
M Tuiasosopo struck out swinging.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

Seattle - Top of 2nd
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
J Smoak walked.
M Saunders doubled to deep center, J Smoak scored.
SEA 1 - 0
N Franklin singled to left center, M Saunders scored.
SEA 2 - 0
H Blanco grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, N Franklin out at second.
C Triunfel lined out to right.


Detroit - Bottom of 2nd
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
A Avila grounded out to shortstop.
H Perez lined out to center.
J Iglesias struck out swinging.

SEA 2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 3rd
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
D Ackley grounded out to second.
F Gutierrez reached on infield single to pitcher.
F Gutierrez stole second.
K Seager walked.
K Morales grounded out to first, F Gutierrez to third, K Seager to second.
J Smoak struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 3rd
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
A Jackson grounded out to third.
D Kelly flied out to left.
M Cabrera struck out swinging.

SEA 2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 4th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
M Saunders lined out to center.
N Franklin struck out looking.
H Blanco grounded out to second.


Detroit - Bottom of 4th
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
P Fielder grounded out to third.
V Martinez reached on infield single to second.
V Martinez to second on wild pitch by H Iwakuma.
M Tuiasosopo walked.
A Avila safe at first on error by third baseman K Seager, V Martinez to third, M Tuiasosopo to second.
H Perez grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, A Avila out at second.

SEA 2 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 5th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
C Triunfel flied out to left.
D Ackley flied out to left.
F Gutierrez struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 5th
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
J Iglesias popped out to first.
A Jackson struck out looking.
D Kelly flied out to center.

SEA 2 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 6th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
K Seager flied out to left.
K Morales flied out to left.
J Smoak homered to left.
SEA 3 - 0
M Saunders grounded out to first.


Detroit - Bottom of 6th
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
M Cabrera struck out swinging.
P Fielder grounded out to third.
V Martinez grounded out to shortstop.

SEA 3 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 7th
Justin Verlander pitching for Detroit
N Franklin struck out looking.
H Blanco popped out to second.
C Triunfel struck out looking.


Detroit - Bottom of 7th
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
M Tuiasosopo grounded out to shortstop.
A Avila struck out swinging.
H Perez grounded out to third.

SEA 3 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 8th
Phil Coke pitching for Detroit
P Coke relieved J Verlander.
D Ackley grounded out to second.
F Gutierrez hit a ground rule double to deep center.
K Seager popped out to second.
K Morales intentionally walked.
J Smoak singled to left, F Gutierrez scored, K Morales to second.
SEA 4 - 0
E Chavez ran for K Morales.
M Saunders doubled to deep right, E Chavez scored, J Smoak to third.
SEA 5 - 0
N Franklin intentionally walked.
A Alburquerque relieved P Coke.
J Smoak scored, M Saunders to third on wild pitch by A Alburquerque, M Saunders scored, N Franklin safe at second on throwing error by catcher A Avila.
SEA 7 - 0
H Blanco flied out to right.


Detroit - Bottom of 8th
Hisashi Iwakuma pitching for Seattle
J Iglesias grounded out to third.
A Jackson singled to center.
D Kelly flied out to center.
M Cabrera grounded out to second.

SEA 7 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

Seattle - Top of 9th
Luke Putkonen pitching for Detroit
L Putkonen relieved A Alburquerque.
C Triunfel grounded out to shortstop.
D Ackley struck out looking.
F Gutierrez homered to left.
SEA 8 - 0
K Seager struck out swinging.


Detroit - Bottom of 9th
Danny Farquhar pitching for Seattle
D Farquhar relieved H Iwakuma.
P Fielder struck out swinging.
V Martinez walked.
B Pena hit for M Tuiasosopo.
B Pena flied out to center.
A Avila struck out looking.


TIGERS LOSE 0-8

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Iwakuma
L: Verlander


GAME INFO:

WP: Iwakuma, Alburquerque.
IBB: Morales, K (by Coke), Franklin (by Coke), Martinez, V (by Iwakuma).
Pitches-strikes: Iwakuma 105-72, Farquhar 19-10, Verlander 124-82, Coke 21-10, Alburquerque 6-4, Putkonen 12-10.
Groundouts-flyouts: Iwakuma 12-4, Farquhar 0-1, Verlander 5-6, Coke 1-0, Alburquerque 0-1, Putkonen 1-0.
Batters faced: Iwakuma 30, Farquhar 4, Verlander 27, Coke 7, Alburquerque 1, Putkonen 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Alburquerque 3-2.
Umpires: HP: Phil Cuzzi. 1B: Ron Kulpa. 2B: Chris Guccione. 3B: Tom Hallion.
Weather: 71 degrees, partly cloudy.
Wind: 10 mph, In from CF.
T: 2:55.
Att: 36,395.
Venue: Comerica Park.
September 18, 2013