Win-starved Tigers, Mariners begin 4-game series

The Seattle Mariners haven't won back-to-back games in a month. It's been nearly twice as long since the Detroit Tigers won two in a row.

The Mariners will be in position to double their winning streak when they host the Tigers in the opener a four-game series on Thursday night.

Detroit still needs to get over that first hump.

The Tigers have lost eight of nine to fall behind the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in the majors. They haven't won two in a row since a three-game winning streak from May 28-31.

The series opener against the Mariners will kick off a 10-game road trip that will stretch past the July 31 trade deadline. Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire is keenly aware that he could lose some players along the way.

"All we try to do is go with the guys we have at the ballpark," Gardenhire said following a 4-0 loss to the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. "We have the guys in the clubhouse that will be with us on the trip. Hopefully, we'll get back with all of them."

The Mariners are facing the same types of trade rumors as they navigate through a difficult stretch. Seattle hasn't won two straight since a three-game winning streak from June 23-26.

The Mariners also lost two key players to injury this week.

Domingo Santana left a 7-2 loss to the visiting Texas Rangers on Tuesday due to right elbow soreness. The right fielder is hitting .273 with 19 home runs and a team-high 65 RBIs.

Seattle second baseman Dee Gordon went on the injured list on Tuesday after leaving the game the night before with a strained left quad.

The Mariners still managed to take two of three from the Rangers with a 5-3 win in the rubber game on Wednesday afternoon.

Daniel Vogelbach hit two solo home runs for Seattle, his second multi-homer effort in his past five games.

The home runs came at key times, and both were off Texas left-hander Mike Minor, who was selected to his first All-Star game this month.

Vogelbach came into the game hitting .127 in 80 plate appearances off left-handers this season, compared to .261 in 290 plate appearances against right-handers. He had also hit 21 of his 23 home runs off righties before Wednesday.

"No doubt it's good for him," Seattle manager Scott Servais told reporters after Wednesday's win. "We're going to see a lot (of left-handers). Detroit's going to run three lefty starters at us, plus they've got three or four in their bullpen. It's that time you kind of sink or swim, and that's a good way to start it for Vogey."

The only right-handed starter Vogelbach likely will see against Detroit is Drew VerHagen on Thursday. VerHagen was recalled on Wednesday from Triple-A Toledo, where went 4-2 as a starter with a 4.42 ERA.

VerHagen (1-0, 15.00 ERA) has made 115 appearances over the past six seasons for Detroit, including four starts. He was with the Tigers earlier this season and walked 10 batters in six innings covering 10 relief appearances. VerHagen seemed to correct his control issues with the Mud Hens, striking out 51 and walking 13 in 53 innings.

"He feels great," Gardenhire said. "He's feeling good, throwing the ball good. He came in here bouncing (Wednesday). He's really excited to do this and we're happy to have him, and now we'll see what he does when he takes the mound."

The Mariners had not announced a Thursday starting pitcher as of late Wednesday night.

--Field Level Media