Detroit Tigers have opportunity on West Coast road trip

Detroit Tigers players will embark on a seven-game road trip beginning with Monday’s contest in Seattle against the Mariners. The series begins the start of a promising stretch for Detroit.

Detroit Tigers fans won’t see the team at home as they hit the road to face the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres.

After a series split against the Tampa Bay Rays at home, the Tigers are seeking to turn things around.

With a 32-36 record and the trade deadline over the horizon, now may be one of the best chances for Detroit to return to legitimate contender status.

The Tigers will turn to Anibal Sanchez on Monday—a move that hasn’t provided much in the way of results this season— to get the ball rolling.

Sanchez has a 7.90 FIP in the Majors this season, and a 4.60 ERA with Triple-A Toledo.

However, there are some reasons to be optimistic.

The veteran has a 2.92 xFIP in four starts for the Mud Hens, and is punched out 11.49 batters per nine frames with Toledo.

He’s also striking out 9.4 batters per nine innings in the Majors, his highest rate since he finished fourth in the Cy Young voting and won the ERA and FIP crowns in the American League in 2013.

While Sanchez has struggled this season, he has found success against Seattle in his Major League career.

The former Marlin owns a 3.86 ERA, 9.8 strikeouts per nine frames and a 1.418 WHIP in 30.1 innings against the American League West franchise.

Additionally, Sanchez has a 3-0 record over the same span, which has included six appearances (four starts) and two complete games.

Breaking down the San Diego Padres

Following the four games in Seattle, the Tigers will head south to San Diego to do battle with the Padres of the National League West.

While the Tigers and Mariners are in a position to turn things around, the Padres might not be.

The rebuilding National League West club is 28-42 with a Major-League worst -113 run differential.

Yangervis Solarte, Franchy Cordero and Austin Hedges are the only Padres position players with WAR stats north of 0.5, with Solarte pacing the group with a 0.8 number.

By comparison, the Tigers have seven position players with a WAR above 0.5.

San Diego’s rotation currently includes Jhoulys Chacin, Clayton Richard, Luis Perdomo and rookies Dinelson Lamet and Miguel Diaz.

The team is currently without the likes of Trevor Cahill, Jered Weaver, Christian Friedrich, Jarred Cosart and Robbie Erlin.

On the pitching side of things, Richard (1.4 WAR) and Chacin (0.8) have been the highest ranking players in terms of WAR among healthy San Diego arms.

Richard has been dependable with a 3.86 FIP, but Chacin’s FIP sits at 4.53.

Pitching-wise, Detroit’s top two starters in terms of WAR, Michael Fulmer (2.4 WAR) and Daniel Norris (1.2) significantly outperform the Padres’ top two healthy arms.

Next: Buck Farmer and his growing list of problems

With some favorable matchups, the Detroit Tigers have a chance to turn things around. They clearly have the talent, they just need to start playing better.