@ Comerica Park
Game 1: Tuesday, July 21st, 7:05 PM ET.
Garrett Olson, LHP (3-3, 4.53) Vs. Rick Porcello, RHP (8-6, 4.14)
Mariners: Olson never got going on Thursday against the Indians, giving up three runs, two earned, on five hits and three walks before the Tribe chased him in the third inning. Olson will have the ball in the series opener against the Tigers as manager Don Wakamatsu plans to experiment with a four-man rotation until he decides who will take the fifth spot. In two starts against Detroit last season, Olson gave up 10 earned runs on 11 hits and seven walks in 7 2-3 innings.
Tigers: Porcello will make his first start since July 5, the result of the Tigers' effort to hold down his workload as the 20-year-old enters the second half of his rookie season. He pitched 125 innings last year in his only full pro season, and he's at 87 innings now, leaving manager Jim Leyland to estimate he has about 15 starts left in him this year. If he starts every five games after this, not counting Friday's day-night doubleheader, he'd use up 14 of those in the regular season. His first of those pits him against the same Mariners squad he beat for his first Major League win with seven innings of one-run ball on April 19 at Seattle.
Game 2: Wednesday, July 22nd, 7:05 PM ET.
Felix Hernandez, RHP (10-3, 2.51) Vs. Armando Galarraga, RHP (5-8, 5.09)
Mariners: In his most recent start, Hernandez dominated the Indians most of the night, striking out eight and allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over eight innings in earning his 10th victory of 2009. Against the Tigers, who beat Hernandez in his debut in 2005, Hernandez has won four straight. In Detroit's first shot at King Felix this season, on April 17, Hernandez scattered seven hits and a walk over six innings of work, allowing three runs while earning the win. Hernandez is 4-2 lifetime against the Tigers.
Tigers: In his first-ever meeting against the Mariners, Galarraga will try to pick up his pitching recovery that had been building before the All-Star break. He lost his last start with four runs on nine hits over six-plus innings against Cleveland last Saturday, but he pitched into the seventh inning with one run allowed in both of his previous outings. Pitching into the seventh itself is big for Galarraga and the Tigers, who badly need a third starter who can take on a big workload alongside Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson. If Galarraga can do it effectively, the Tigers rotation looks deep heading into their playoff run.
Game 3: Thursday, July 23rd, 1:05 PM ET.
Jose Contreras, RHP (4-8, 4.75) Vs. Justin Verlander, RHP (10-5, 3.34)
White Sox: Contreras had his shortest outing since returning from Triple-A Charlotte on June 8, as he lasted just 4 1/3 innings in a 10-2 loss against the Orioles on Sunday. He struggled with his command from the outset, walking four batters, hitting two more batters with pitches and throwing two wild pitches. In total, Contreras surrendered five runs (four earned) on five hits and struck out just one batter. He did not allow a run-scoring hit, as all runs scored occurred via a walk or wild pitch. Contreras faced Detroit on June 8 in his first game back from Triple-A, allowing no runs and one hit in eight innings of work. Lifetime against the Tigers, Contreras is 9-9 in 24 career starts with a 4.51 ERA.
Tigers: Verlander was nothing short of brilliant in his last start but was ultimately outdueled by the Yankees' CC Sabathia and lost, 2-1. The ace right-hander worked seven dominant innings, allowing just two runs with six strikeouts, utilizing his patented fastball that routinely approached triple digits. More impressive than his velocity, though, was the especially dazzling movement on virtually all of his pitches. Verlander has allowed just five earned runs in 20 innings over his last three starts.
