Detroit Tigers vs Seattle Mariners Picks and Predictions August 14th 2024

Kerry Carpenter, Tigers look for another win against Mariners

Wednesday’s forecast in Detroit calls for temperatures in the mid-80s and partly cloudy skies. The Mariners are 63-57 overall and they are facing the Tigers, who are 57-63. Detroit has won two straight and is 4th in the AL Central, while the Mariners are 2nd in the AL West.

First pitch from Comerica Park is set for 6:40 PM ET, and BSDET is carrying the game on TV. The over/under line is currently at 8 runs, and the Mariners are favored on the money line (-144). The Tigers will send Beau Brieske to the mound vs. Bryan Woo for the Mariners.

Seattle vs. Detroit Key Information

• Teams: Mariners at Tigers
• Where: Comerica Park Detroit
• Date: Wednesday, August 14th
• Betting Odds SEA -144 | DET +121 O/U 8

The Mariners Can Win If…

Seattle is sending right-hander Bryan Woo to the mound today vs. the Tigers. He has made 13 starts this year and has a record of 5-1 with an ERA of 2.27. Woo’s WHIP for the season is .88, and opponents are batting .206 off him this year. In his 13 starts, he has turned in six quality starts and is averaging 6.68 strikeouts per nine innings. Looking back at his last outing, Woo finished with a no-decision vs. the Tigers, giving up three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings of work. Before that, he had won two straight starts.

Cal Raleigh has been struggling this season, batting just .217 for the Mariners, but he does lead the team with 26 homers and 76 RBIs, which is 13th in the league. Over his last nine games, he has three homers and is batting .241. Randy Arozarena is 2nd on the team with 16 homers and 3rd with 42 RBIs, and he has been hot of late, going 10/33 in his last 10 games.

As a team, the Mariners are batting just .217, which is the worst in the league, and they are also near the bottom of the league in runs per game and home runs. Overall, they are averaging just 4 runs per contest. Currently, they are 27th in home runs and have the most strikeouts in the league.

• The Mariners are 6-4 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Mariners are 3-2 vs. the run line.
• Seattle has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Mariners have an average of 5.4 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten road games, the Mariners are 4-6
• Looking back across the Mariners last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Seattle has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Mariners have averaged 5.0 runs per game on offense

The Tigers Can Win If…

Right-hander Beau Brieske gets the start for the Tigers today as he faces the Mariners at home. Brieske has made 27 appearances this year to go along with three starts. His record for the season is 1-2, and he has an ERA of 4.57. Brieske’s WHIP for the season is 1.33. In his last outing, he went three innings and didn’t give up a run. He finished with a no-decision in that outing. Brieske has finished with a no-decision in each of his last three appearances. Per nine innings, he is averaging 9.8 strikeouts and 3.27 walks.

Heading into today’s game, the Tigers are averaging just 4.2 runs per game, which is 21st in the league. They have been a bit better at home, averaging 4.3 runs per game. As a team, they are batting just .232, and their on-base percentage of .296 is also among the worst in the league. Detroit’s team OPS of .682 is 22nd in the league.

Riley Greene and Matt Vierling have been the Tigers’ top power hitters this season, with Greene leading the team with 17 homers, and Vierling is right behind him with 14. Greene is also batting .264 for the season, and Vierling is hitting .255. Over his last five games, Colt Keith is hitting .286, and Kerry Carpenter went 3/5 in his last game, including two homers.

• The Tigers are 5-5 in their last ten games.
• Over their last five games, the Tigers are 4-1 vs. the run line.
• Detroit has an over/under record of 5-5 in their last ten games.
• The Tigers have an average of 5.2 runs per game over their last five games.
• Across their last ten home games, the Tigers are 5-5
• Looking back across the Tigers last five games as the favorite, they are 4-1
• Detroit has gone 1-2 in their last three games as the underdog
• In their ten most recent road games, the Tigers have averaged 3.7 runs per game on offense

The Lean

Look for the Tigers to come out on top as the host the Mariners today, and we are leaning towards taking them on the money line. We are also leaning towards taking the over, as this is projected to be the 4th highest-scoring game of the day, and this one has the 6th highest home run projection. Detroit’s offense has the best team hits projection in the league today.

The Detroit Tigers have been struggling to find their power game since losing Kerry Carpenter to injury in late May. However, Carpenter made a triumphant return on Tuesday, immediately reminding everyone of his impact by smashing two home runs in a 15-1 rout of the Seattle Mariners.

As the Tigers prepare for the second game of this three-game home series on Wednesday night, Carpenter’s performance provides a much-needed boost for a team that has struggled with consistency at the plate.

Carpenter’s Impact: A Game-Changer for the Tigers

Carpenter, who had been on the 60-day injured list due to a back injury, returned to the lineup with a vengeance. Prior to his injury, Carpenter was one of the Tigers’ most reliable hitters, batting .283 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs. Despite his absence, he quickly reached the 10-homer mark, becoming the fourth Tiger to do so this season.

Reflecting on his time away from the field, Carpenter expressed mixed emotions: “I wish I didn’t miss as much time as I did, but I think we did everything we possibly could to get back — and here we are. I feel happy with it.” His excitement to rejoin his teammates was evident, as he added, “Watching the games isn’t as fun as playing the games. I got to see a bunch of good baseball, I got to see a bunch of my friends play for 2 1/2 months, but it’s a lot better being out here with them.”

Carpenter’s return as the designated hitter immediately revitalized the Tigers’ lineup. Batting in the No. 2 spot, he provided a power surge that had been sorely missing. His two-homer game against the Mariners was reminiscent of his performance against the Houston Astros earlier in the season, where he also hit two home runs in a single game.

A.J. Hinch on Carpenter’s Influence

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch couldn’t overstate the significance of Carpenter’s return: “He’s such a big presence and such a big threat. It’s amazing what one hitter does to the middle of your order, where it just sort of relaxes the group. It’s great to see him back. You see the impact right away.” Hinch’s comments underscore how much Carpenter’s presence in the lineup helps to stabilize the team and boosts morale.

Seattle Mariners Struggle as Tigers Capitalize

The Mariners, who entered this series on a four-game winning streak, faced a tough start to their nine-game road trip. George Kirby, who had been reliable all season, endured a career-worst outing, giving up 11 runs in what turned into a disastrous game for Seattle. Mariners manager Scott Servais acknowledged the team’s miscues: “I thought George’s stuff was pretty good early, but he obviously made some mistakes as they extended some innings. We could have made some plays, too. They had six infield hits, and we had five of them in our gloves.”

Looking Ahead: Bryan Woo vs. Tigers’ Bullpen

The series continues Wednesday with Mariners’ Bryan Woo (5-1, 2.27 ERA) taking the mound. Woo has been impressive this season, especially against right-handed hitters, who are batting just .176 against him. He has also not allowed a home run to a right-handed batter all season, making him a formidable opponent for the Tigers.

Woo’s last outing against Detroit saw him dominate early, retiring the first 12 batters he faced before allowing three runs in the fifth inning. He managed to stay on until the seventh inning, showing resilience and control. His performance against the Phillies on August 2, where he pitched seven shutout innings, suggests that the Tigers will have their work cut out for them.

The Tigers, on the other hand, will continue with their bullpen strategy, given the current state of their starting rotation. Ace Tarik Skubal and rookie Keider Montero remain the only consistent starters, forcing the team to rely heavily on their relievers.

Final Thoughts

Kerry Carpenter’s return has injected new life into the Detroit Tigers, offering hope that they can turn their season around with a renewed offensive spark. As the series against the Mariners progresses, Carpenter’s presence in the lineup and the Tigers’ ability to navigate through their pitching challenges will be critical in determining the outcome.

For the Mariners, rebounding from Tuesday’s loss will be essential, and much will depend on Bryan Woo’s ability to maintain his dominance on the mound. Wednesday’s game promises to be a crucial test for both teams as they battle for momentum.

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