(Sports Network) - Still hot on the tails of the Minnesota Twins, the Detroit Tigers will take on the Seattle Mariners in the second contest of a three-game set at Comerica Park.
Detroit is currently just one game behind the Twins in the AL Central, while the Mariners are quickly coming to terms that this is not their year, as they sit 13 games below .500.
However, there are still games to be played and for the Mariners they will look towards Jason Vargas to get them back in the win column.
Vargas, who has six wins on the season, is coming off a loss to Milwaukee. In the setback to the Brewers, Vargas allowed only three runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
It was the first loss for Vargas since May 4 when he was defeated by Tampa Bay, 5-2.
This will be the seventh road start on the year for the right-hander, and although he is just 1-2 away from Safeco Field, he still has a mediocre earned run average of 3.60.
Earlier this season Vargas made his first career start against Detroit, and in that matchup Vargas held the Tigers to just two runs in five innings. However, despite the display, Vargas did not factor in the decision.
As for the Tigers, they will turn to their ace hurler in Justin Verlander, who has won four of his last five games. The last time the hard-throwing right- hander was on the bump he led the Tigers to a 10-4 victory over Atlanta.
In the win over the Braves, Verlander surrendered four runs, but also collected six strike outs in seven innings of work.
Earlier this season, Verlander was tortured by Seattle, as the Mariners scored five runs on seven hits against him. However, despite the loss, Verlander is still 6-5 against the team from the AL West, and has also posted a 3.67 ERA in those matchups.
Yesterday, Johnny Damon hit a two-run home run and Max Scherzer worked eight innings to help Detroit take a 7-1 win.
Scherzer (5-6) won his third straight decision as he gave up just one run on three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts for the Tigers, who had dropped their previous two. Austin Jackson and Don Kelly each drove in two runs while Brennan Boesch went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Doug Fister (3-4) dropped his third straight decision as he was tagged for five runs on six hits with three walks, but had five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Franklin Gutierrez homered to account for the offense for the Mariners, who have lost five of their last eight.
Seattle has won four of six matchups with Detroit this season and seven of the past 11 games between the ball clubs.