GDT: 5/20/08 - DET (17-27) VS SEA (18-27), 7:05 p.m. ET

PHOENIX -- A Tigers-Mariners series could've been plugged as a potential playoff matchup going into the season. Instead, the M's and Tigers head to Comerica Park this week with the two worst records in the American League, and two offenses in desperate need of a spark.

In this case, misery loves company, because one of these teams has a chance to get some sort of momentum before Memorial Day weekend.

The Tigers are searching for anything to ignite an offense that was held to 12 runs over last week's six-game road trip to Kansas City and Arizona, including two more times shut out added to their Major League-leading total of seven. After Sunday's 4-0 shutout to the Diamondbacks, manager Jim Leyland said he was out of answers why they've struggled the way they have.

Somewhere on their list of solutions, though, should include a meeting with the back end of Seattle's rotation. The Tigers will avoid M's aces Felix Hernandez and Erik Bedard, both of whom own an ERA under 3.40. Instead, they'll face three starters with a collective ERA of 5.19.

Their opponent Tuesday, former Twins starter Carlos Silva, has a history of allowing hits without surrendering runs to go with them -- especially against the Tigers. Detroit had much the same woes against Arizona's Randy Johnson on Sunday, but was arguably a hit away from a different fate had it converted one of its early scoring opportunities.

Whether the Tigers can do that on Tuesday could potentially come down to one such hit, like so many other games have for them.

"Keep trying," said Magglio Ordonez, 7-for-17 off fellow Venezuelan Silva. "That's all we can do."

Ordonez isn't the only one who hits Silva. Carlos Guillen is 15-for-29 with four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 11 RBIs off of his fellow countryman. Gary Sheffield is 6-for-19 with two homers and seven RBIs off of him. Curtis Granderson also has a couple homers against him.

But then, as Leyland has pointed out many times recently, the Tigers have plenty of track records suggesting they should hit. So far, they haven't, and it's the most perplexing struggle Leyland has seen in two decades of managing in the Majors.

"I've had teams that were good, that had slumps from time to time, obviously," Leyland said. "But a team with supposedly the offensive capabilities of this team, it's mind-boggling to me [that they've struggled like this]. Guys aren't just pitching good games against us [and not others]."

2008 Interleague Schedule
• May 16-18: at Diamondbacks
• June 13-15: vs. Dodgers
• June 16-18: at Giants
• June 20-22: at Padres
• June 24-26: vs. Cardinals
• June 27-29: vs. Rockies


Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander (1-7, 6.05 ERA)
Rather than a mid-90s fastball that hasn't hit the upper 90s, Verlander looks a little more like his old form with each passing start. Still, the Tigers' offensive struggles in his outings have left him in the AL lead for losses, the most recent loss occurring despite holding Kansas City to two runs over six-plus innings on Wednesday. Detroit has scored two runs or fewer in seven of Verlander's nine starts. He has won all four of his starts against Seattle during his career -- three times last year alone -- to go with a 2.63 ERA over 27 1/3 innings. But then, he had never lost to the Royals before this year, either.

SEA: RHP Carlos Silva (3-2, 4.17 ERA)
Silva allowed two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings and got a no-decision in his last start against the Rangers as he continues to be a consistent member of the Seattle rotation. Silva did have to leave the game with mild lower back stiffness in the seventh inning, but he said after the game that he will be able to make his next start. Since the Mariners are skipping Jarrod Washburn in the rotation, Silva will go Tuesday at home against Detroit. Silva has been lights out at Safeco Field. He is 5-2 with a 3.20 ERA for eight career starts at his new home ballpark.


Tidbits

Look for Gary Sheffield to return to the Tigers lineup as the designated hitter Tuesday. Leyland hopes to play him for his entire three-game series after using him sparingly over the weekend without the DH slot. ... Leyland is slated to meet with president/general manager Dave Dombrowski on Monday to discuss the team and what they can do to turn it around. Dontrelle Willis' rehab stint and whether he's ready to return are expected to be among the topics. ... Reliever Denny Bautista, currently on the disabled list with right shoulder tendintis, is scheduled to throw another bullpen session early this week after throwing a successful second session Sunday morning. Bautista started to mix in his breaking ball Sunday, but should throw a full session in his next one. That should be the last hurdle before he begins to face live hitters, possibly in a Minor League rehab assignment.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Mon., May 19: Off-day

• Tue., May 20: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (1-7, 6.05 ERA)) VS Mariners (RHP Carlos Silva (3-2, 4.17 ERA)), 7:05 PM ET

• Wed., May 21: Tigers (LHP Kenny Rogers (3-4, 6.65 ERA)) VS Mariners (RHP Miguel Batista (3-5, 6.11 ERA)), 7:05 PM ET

• Thur., May 22: Tigers (RHP Jeremy Bonderman (2-4, 4.76 ERA)) VS Mariners (TBD), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Fri., May 23: Tigers (RHP Armando Galarraga (3-1, 3.06 ERA)) VS Twins (RHP Kevin Slowey, (0-4, 5.49 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Seattle AVG
Suzuki, CF .280
Beltre, 3B .241
Lopez, 2B .307
Ibanez, LF .301
Vidro, DH .207
Sexson, 1B .200
Johjima, C .221
Balentien, RF .219
Betancourt, SS .255


Detroit AVG
:curtis: Granderson, CF .233
:placido: Polanco, 2B .271
:sheff: Sheffield, DH .189
Ordonez, RF .307
Cabrera, 1B .270
Guillen, 3B .284
:joyce: Joyce, LF .267
:edgar: Renteria, SS .263
:pudge: Rodriguez, C .264

62 degrees at game time, slight chance of a shower!


GO TIGERS GO!



Sweep the Mariners

Go Tigers! Pleeease give JV some run support!!

Stat of the day: Justin Verlander's record against Seattle...4-0 (2.63 ERA).

bobrob2004 wrote:

Stat of the day: Justin Verlander's record against Seattle...4-0 (2.63 ERA).

Not for long.

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Stat of the day: Justin Verlander's record against Seattle...4-0 (2.63 ERA).

Not for long.

He's gonna be 5-0!

bobrob2004 wrote:

catbox_9 wrote:

bobrob2004 wrote:

Stat of the day: Justin Verlander's record against Seattle...4-0 (2.63 ERA).

Not for long.

He's gonna be 5-0!

Or 4-1 with a 1.63 ERA (if you catch my drift)

cmon boys!!!!

Come on tigers, bring your grieving fans spirits up!

Top of 1st

Suzuki - singles

runner out stealing 2nd

Beltre - hr

Sea 1-0

Lopez flies out

Ibanez - k three outs

Tigers down 1-0

We're already losing? It's only been on for 10 minutes! (i'm not watching at the moment)

That did not take long for us to be losing

Grandy flies out

LETS GO TIGERS

:placido: singles

go polly!

:sheff: flies out

flies out

end of 1st 1-0 Sea

Top of 2nd

Vidro - grounds out

Sexson - k

Johjima - grounds out - 3 outs

doubles