Baseball

Tigers vs Mariners: setting the table for the series
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Tigers vs Mariners: setting the table for the series
Credit: BG

The Detroit Tigers managed to take out the Cleveland Guardians on the heels of the best-of-second series. It took three games, but the Tigers are finally in the division series.

For months, we thought it would happen by avoiding wild card games , but the Tigers' end of season was so catastrophic that it took longer than expected.

As for the Mariners, we agree that their end of the season was surprising, but in the other way. The club dislodged the Astros from the top of the West Division with a strong end to the season.

Let's put it this way: a month ago, I would have expected a duel between the two teams… but I would have thought that Game #1 would have been played in Detroit.

The pitchers

On paper, the Mariners' rotation is much better than the Tigers' – and it's not particularly close. Plus, the guys will be rested and the manager can line up his starters as he sees fit, given the break since Sunday.

The big problem, though? Bryan Woo, their best pitcher in 2025, isn't in top form. We don't know when he'll be able to pitch again, but I don't expect him to pitch in Game #1. His health is questionable.

Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby are possibilities for the first game.

The Tigers' rotation won't be as good. Sure, they have the best pitcher in the world (Tarik Skubal), but they don't really have four starters. And Skubal won't be available for game #1. Will a committee of relievers do the job?

The Tigers bullpen better be good. Tyler Holton, Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest were the three men manager A.J. Hinch trusted against Seattle: all three pitchers came up empty.

Andres Munoz, Eduard Bazardo, Gabe Speier and Matt Brash are the main names to watch in the Mariners' bullpen. That's solid stuff. Really, on the mound, things are going well for Seattle.

The hitters

In the playoffs, three players stood out for the Tigers: Javier Baez, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene. Parker Meadows, Spencer Torkelson and Gleyber Torres are also ones to watch.

Dillon Dingler also has the potential to do some damage.

For the Mariners, the additions of Josh Naylor (who has also become a goal-stealer) and Eugenio Suarez have helped. Randy Arozarena is capable of standing up in the playoffs, Julio Rodriguez is a star, J.P. Crawford is excellent at shortstop…

Oh, I forgot: Cal Raleigh is one to watch. He hit 60 home runs this season.

The managers

Dan Wilson is a good regular-season manager. He's been in Seattle for a year and a half and he's doing a great job. We've never seen what he can do as a playoff manager, though.

A.J. Hinch, on the other hand, has quite a bit of playoff experience: he won it all with Houston. And for the past two years, with Detroit, he's had his moments in the playoffs.

The imponderables

This won't be the most-watched series in baseball, but both teams are out to prove themselves. The Tigers will want to show they can play like the club that dominated much of the regular schedule.

And the Mariners want to go far in the playoffs. The club has never played in the World Series, and the 2025 squad has the potential to change that this year in an American League that's… takeable.

This content was created with the help of AI.

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