Rogers' EARLY Afternoon ASSAULT >>> 70-50-3 L24 Days!
(MLB) Seattle vs. Detroit,
Money Line: -123.00 Detroit (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: The Tigers beat Minnesota 13-4 on Sunday and then on Tuesday, in the opener of a three-game home set with Seattle, clubbed the Mariners 19-9. The Tigers had 24 hits in the rout of Seattle, their most since Sept. 2013 (19 runs were the team's most since 2008). However, James Paxton threw seven scoreless innings (9 Ks) against the Tigers last night and two relievers completed the four-hit shutout. Seattle scored eight runs on 15 hits and has enjoyed an offensive surge of its own, with a total of 28 runs in its last three games.

The pitching matchup: Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2 & 5.31 ERA) will oppose Justin Verlander (1-2 & 6.04 ERA) in the rubber match of this series this afternoon at Comerica Park. Iwakuma allowed a modest three runs over 12 innings in his first two outings of 2017 but then nine runs in 8 1/3 innings in the last two.He's already allowed six HRs in just 20 1/3 innings to open the 2017 season. Iwakuma is 2-2 with a 3.47 ERA in eight career games - seven starts (Seattle is 4-3) - against Detroit with nine HRs allowed in 46 2/3 innings. Verlander, a former Cy Young and MVP winner, is also going through similar struggles in MLB's first month. He allowed just two ERs over 13 1/3 innings in his first two starts before trouble set it. He was ripped for nine runs on 11 hits in four innings at Cleveland on April 15 and then could not find the strike zone while issuing six walks in five innings of a 7-6 loss at Minnesota last Saturday. Verlander is 10-8 with a 3.25 ERA in 20 career starts vs. Seattle, with Detroit going 11-9.

The pick: Verlander did not factor in the decision in either of his two starts against Seattle last season but pitched well, allowing three runs in 14 total innings. Coming off being shut out, on the heels of scoring 13 and 19 run sin the two previous games, I expect thoss Detroit bats to bounce back. After all, Seattle's win in Detroit last night gives the Mariners just a 3-10 road record in 2017, where they've allowed an average of 5.23 RPG (Detroit has averaged 5.33 RPG at home). Make Detroit an 8* play.