First pitch: Wednesday, 10:10 p.m. ET
Line: Detroit +120, Seattle -130, Total: 8.5

The Mariners will be going for their fourth straight win when they host the Tigers on Wednesday.

The Tigers are really struggling coming into this game, as they have lost four straight games and nine of their past 12. If they can’t find a way to turn things around soon then they are going to find themselves wondering whether or not selling assets will be the best move at the trade deadline. The Mariners, meanwhile, are rolling lately. They have won three straight coming into this contest, and it has been their pitching that has been excellent. Seattle has given up nine runs total over the past three games, which was much needed after allowing 20 runs in the first two games of their series against the Rangers. The starters in this Wednesday night matchup are going to be RHP Justin Verlander (4-4, 4.50 ERA, 75 K) for the Tigers and RHP James Paxton (5-2, 3.23 ERA, 62 K) for the Mariners. One trend that favors Detroit in this game is the fact that James Paxton is 7-16 against the money line in night games over the past two seasons. The Mariners, however, have the pleasure of hosting a Tigers team that is just 16-30 against the money line after two or more consecutive Unders over the past two seasons.

The Tigers are in a bad way right now, but a victory on Wednesday just might snap them out of it. They couldn’t have asked for a better guy to be on the mound either. Justin Verlander is the guy that will be on the hill in this one, and the righty is coming off of a very good start against the Rays. He pitched seven innings of two-run ball, and he struck out six batters in that one. Verlander also happened to have one of his best starts of the year against the Mariners, as he gave up no earned runs in seven innings in a loss to Seattle on Apr. 27. One thing he does need to be concerned with is his control, as he has walked nine batters over the past two games. If he is putting batters on easily on Wednesday then his team is not going to win this one. Offensively, the Tigers are going to need 1B Miguel Cabrera (.267 BA, 7 HR, 32 RBI) to start playing like the guy he normally is. Cabrera has gone hitless in three straight games coming into this one, so it’s no surprise that Detroit has lost four straight. The Tigers need their best hitter to start producing fast.

The Mariners are sending James Paxton to the hill on Wednesday, and the righty has been a bit lousy as of late. After an unbelievable start to the season, Paxton has hit a rough patch in his past two starts. He has allowed 11 earned runs in his past 7.2 innings of work, and that is not going to cut it moving forward. One problem that Paxton has had is that he is starting to allow homers. He did not give any up in each of his first seven starts this season, but he has allowed one in three straight now. Look for him to do his absolute best to keep the ball in the park in this one. Offensively, the Mariners will be hoping that both 2B Robinson Cano (.281 BA, 11 HR, 40 RBI) and DH Nelson Cruz (.292 BA, 14 HR, 55 RBI) can get it going on Wednesday. Cano has gone hitless in two straight, which is uncharacteristic of the superstar. He’ll hope to start producing in a big way starting on Wednesday.