SEATTLE – The Detroit Tigers are kicking off a seven-game road trip Monday as the second half of the season officially gets underway. The Tigers (41-40) are coming off a series victory over Toronto that capped a disappointing 4-5 home stand at Comerica Park.
They'll turn to one of the coldest pitchers in the game to turn things around out West.
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Alfredo Simon allowed 18 earned runs over his last three starts, including a 15-hit effort by the Pirates in his last outing. The Tigers' most consistent starter over the first two and a half months has unraveled in recent weeks, failing record a quality start for nearly a month.
He'll try to break that streak against a Mariners lineup he's never faced in his career:
Austin Jackson, CF
Kyle Seager, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Nelson Cruz, DH
Seth Smith, RF
Logan Morrison, 1B
Dustin Ackley, LF
Brad Miller, SS
Mike Zunino, C
This starting nine is just 6-19 against Simon, so the 34-year-old will see his first real action against the lineup on Monday.
First Pitch: 10:10 p.m. on FSD
Seattle will send out 34-year-old righty Hisashi Iwakuma, who makes his first start since April 20 due to injury.
Iwakuma allowed four earned runs in each of this first three starts before hitting the shelf this season, striking out 11 batters and allowing 20 hits in 16 1/3 innings.
The Tigers will send out this starting lineup against Iwakuma:
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Yoenis Cespedes, LF
Victor Martinez, DH
J.D. Martinez, RF
Alex Avila, C
Nick Castellanos, 3B
Anthony Gose, CF
Andrew Romine, 1B
Jose Iglesias, SS
Cespedes and Kinsler, who have batted against Iwakuma a combined 47 times, hit .404 against him with six doubles and six homers (three each). Alex Avila, who started the last two games at 1st base but is returning to his familiar position behind the plate on Monday, is 0-9 against Iwakuma.
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The Tigers will play three games against the Mariners before heading to Minnesota, where they'll play the Twins four times to reach the All-Star break.
Detroit is six games behind the Royals and 4 1/2 games behind the Twins in the AL Central Division.