Analyzing Detroit Tigers win 3-2 vs Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of ALDS
Evan Petzold and Jeff Seidel break down the Detroit Tigers’ 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
The Detroit Tigers have a lead in the series and the best pitcher in baseball starting tonight.
The Tigers are facing off against the Seattle Mariners in Game 2 of the ALDS on Sunday, Oct. 5. First pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcasted on FS1. The Tigers are looking to take a 2-0 lead in the series before heading back to Detroit for Game 3 on Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Detroit has a 1-0 series lead thanks to a 3-2 victory over Seattle in Game 1 on Saturday, Oct. 4. Third baseman Zach McKinstry recorded the go-ahead RBI single in the 11th inning, while a two-run home run from right fielder Kerry Carpenter initially gave the Tigers the lead in the fifth inning.
And after rookie Troy Melton turned in four solid innings on the mound in his first career playoff start on Saturday, ace lefty Tarik Skubal will take the mound for the Tigers on Sunday starting opposite Mariners’ righty Luis Castillo.
Follow along here for live updates from Game 2 of the ALDS.
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Tigers ALDS Game 2 live updates
This section will be updated.
End 3rd: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
Right fielder Victor Robles reached via a walk to lead off the bottom of the third for the Mariners. Shortstop J.P. Crawford, who entered the game 4-for-5 against Skubal, then struck out for the first out of the inning.
Randy Arozarena flew out on a high fly to left field for the second out, and Cal Raleigh tried to jump a first-pitch changeup but lined out to shortstop Javier Báez to end the inning.
Skubal has four strikeouts on 44 pitches through three innings.
Middle 3rd: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
Mariners starter Luis Castillo got three outs on nine pitches: first on a three-pitch strikeout facing Gleyber Torres, the next on a groundout to second base from Kerry Carpenter and the third on a lineout from Riley Greene.
The Tigers do not have a hit through three innings.
End 2nd: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
Skubal worked an eight-pitch inning in the second, giving up a long fly ball to third baseman Eugenio Suárez and also recording his third strikeout of the night, ending the inning by punching out designated hitter Mitch Garver.
Middle 2nd: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
Tigers designated hitter Colt Keith got on base in his first Game 1 at-bat on a single, and he reached base on his first Game 2 at-bat via a walk to lead off the second inning. Catcher Dillon Dingler couldn’t move Keith over, however, popping out harmlessly to second baseman Jorge Polanco at the outer lip of the infield.
Third baseman Zach McKinstry worked a walk, and Javier Báez moved both runners over to scoring position with a swinging bunt that led to the second out of the inning. But Parker Meadows couldn’t bring them home, striking out to end the inning.
The Tigers would presumably like to score runs, but getting Castillo to throw 50+ pitches after two innings is somewhat of a win with a tired Mariners bullpen behind him.
End 1st: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
Mariners left fielder Randy Arozarena led off the bottom of the first inning with a single grounded up the middle. Skubal then struck out Cal Raleigh with a nasty 3-2 changeup and got Julio RodrÃguez to strike out after a long-at bat.
His next batter faced got out on the first pitch, however, with Jorge Polanco popping out to third baseman Zach McKinstry to end the inning.
Middle 1st: Tigers 0, Mariners 0
After a Gleyber Torres strikeout, Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter drew a one-out walk. Left fielder Riley Greene then flew out to left field before Spencer Torkelson ended the inning with another soft flyout to left.
The Tigers didn’t score in the first, but they did make Castillo work, as the righty already has 25 pitches through one inning.
Tarik Skubal is coming out to the mound.
Fox’s pregame panel of former All-Stars all picked the Mariners to win the series yesterday. But after the Tigers Game 1 victory on Saturday, their Game 2 picks are a bit more mixed today:
Dontrelle Willis: Mariners (5-3).Derek Jeter: Tigers (3-2).Alex Rodriguez: Mariners (5-4).David Ortiz: Tigers (5-2).
With the temperature just above 60℉ in Seattle currently, and no rain in the forecast, the roof at T-Mobile Park looks like it will be open again for Game 2.
Tigers designated hitter Colt Keith ripped a single in his first at-bat in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, playing for the first time since Sept. 18. And though he’s still managing the pain from the right rib inflammation he has been recovering from, he says he can still put up competitive at-bats.
Still, he’s not going to be playing defense, for now:
“The risk of me going out there and diving or taking a weird ground ball and re-aggravating it — it’s just a little too high. The way I can help the team right now is in the box.”
As is the case against many teams, Tarik Skubal’s career numbers against today’s Mariners lineup tend to favor the lefty ace.
That comes with one notable exception, however — and he’s batting at the very bottom of the order.
LF Randy Arozarena: 5-for-18, 2B, 7 Ks.C Cal Raleigh: 2-for-9, HR, 3 Ks.CF Julio RodrÃguez: 2-for-8, 2B, HR.2B Jorge Polanco: 7-for-26, 2B, HR, 5 Ks.3B Eugenio Suárez: 0-for-2.1B Josh Naylor: 1-for-9, 2 Ks.DH Mitch Garver: not faced.RF Victor Robles: 1-for-9, 4 Ks.SS J.P. Crawford: 4-for-5, 2B.
Luis Castillo has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in baseball over his nine-year career, but there are a few Tigers players who have strong career numbers against the three-time All-Star.
2B Gleyber Torres: 1-for-14, 3 BBs, 5 Ks.RF Kerry Carpenter: 1-for-5, HR.LF Riley Greene: 4-for-8, 2B, 3B.1B Spencer Torkelson: 1-for-7, 2 Ks.DH Colt Keith: not faced.C Dillon Dingler: 1-for-4, 2B.3B Zach McKinstry: 3-for-12, 2 Ks.SS Javier Báez: 9-for-40, 3 2B, 9 KsCF Parker Meadows: 2-for-5, 2 Ks.
Notably, Wenceel Pérez is 4-for-6 in his career against Castillo, which means he could be used early as a pinch hitter against Castillo if needed.
The Mariners swapped out designated hitter Dominic Canzone for Mitch Garver with the lefty Skubal on the hill and shuffled the middle of their lineup from Game 1. Otherwise, their Game 2 batting order looks very similar from last night’s order.
The Tigers are running with the same lineup they used during Game 1.
The first playoff game at Comerica Park in 2025 will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with Tigers starter Jack Flaherty taking the hill.
Flaherty was named the ALDS Game 3 starter on Sunday, Oct. 5, ahead of Game 2 against the Mariners. Casey Mize was also named as the starter for Game 4, switching places in the rotation with Flaherty as Mize was the Game 2 starter in the wild card series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Flaherty played a big role pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their 2024 World Series win, arriving to Los Angeles in a midseason trade with the Tigers. He’s had an up-and-down season in 2025, however, putting up a 4.64 ERA in 161 innings pitched while sporting an 8-15 record.
The veteran pitched very well in Game 2 against the Guardians, however, allowing just one run and three hits over 4â…” innings pitched in the Tigers 6-1 loss.
Tigers ALDS Game 2 channel vs Mariners
The Tigers will play the Mariners on FS1 amidst a busy NFL Sunday.
Date: Sunday, Oct. 5.
First pitch:Â 8:03 p.m. ET.
Channel:Â FS1.
Streaming:Â Fubo.
Radio:Â WXYT-FM (97.1).
Tigers ALDS Game 2 odds vs Mariners
The Tigers are a slight favorite for Game 2 against the Mariners.
Over/under: 5½ runs.Moneyline: Mariners (+110), Tigers (-130).
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Sunday afternoon.
Tigers vs Mariners ALDS schedule
Best-of-five series, all times Eastern.
*If necessary
Saturday, Oct. 4, Game 1:Â Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11)Sunday, Oct. 5, Game 2:Â Tigers at Mariners, 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1Tuesday, Oct. 7, Game 3:Â Mariners at Tigers, 4:08 p.m., FS1*Wednesday, Oct. 8, Game 4:Â Mariners at Tigers, 3:08 p.m., FS1*Friday, Oct. 10, Game 5:Â Tigers at Mariners, 4:40 p.m., FS1Tigers vs Mariners probable pitchers for ALDS
Here are the starting pitchers for the playoff series between the Tigers and Mariners:
Game 2: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal vs. Mariners RHP Luis CastilloGame 3: Tigers RHP Casey Mize vs. Mariners TBA (likely Logan Gilbert)*Game 4: Tigers RHP Jack Flaherty vs. Mariners TBA*Game 5: Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal vs. Mariners TBA
*If necessary
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com