With Miller still out, Seager plays on

DETROIT -- Kyle Seager has continued struggling at the plate in recent days as the young third baseman's consecutive game streak reached 106 games with Thursday's finale against the Tigers, but the Mariners don't have a lot of options to rest him at this point.

With shortstop Brad Miller sidelined by a sore hamstring, the Mariners don't have a backup third baseman available. Carlos Triunfel would be the backup third baseman, but he's starting at shortstop in place of Miller.

Miller hasn't been available since injuring his left leg Saturday in St. Louis.

"He's doing good," manager Eric Wedge said Thursday. "He's coming along quicker than maybe we thought. We'll probably push him a little more tomorrow. He won't be ready to be back in there tomorrow, but we'll push him a little more."

Meanwhile, Seager has gone 2-for-40 (.050) over his last 11 games as his average has dropped to .267 going into Thursday's game. His 106 consecutive game streak is the longest in club history for a third baseman.

"He's made it very clear he wants to push all the way through this, but we'll just have to wait and see," Wedge said. "I think he gets a little frustrated from time to time because he does know himself well and when he does miss a pitch that he feels he should hit, he expects more from himself. But that's part of his competitive nature. That's one of the reasons he is good. I think he'll be OK."

Wedge said opposing teams are also pitching Seager tougher as he's gained a reputation as one of the Mariners' key hitters over the past year.

"I think he has a name now and has earned a lot more respect," Wedge said. "There's that level of awareness. You just look at the [velocity]. When you see a guy come up that is more of a guy, for some reason there's a couple more miles per hour on the pitch. That' s not by accident. They're focusing a little more and there is that much more intensity. He's been consistently hitting third and is a focal point for us in our lineup. So I think they do pay a little more attention to him."