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.
SEATTLE — Colt Keith didn’t waste any time.
He took a first-pitch sinker for called strike.
After that, Keith ripped a second-pitch curveball from right-hander George Kirby into right field for a single in the second inning during the Detroit Tigers‘ 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, Oct. 4, in Game 1 of the ALDS at T-Mobile Park.
It was his first plate appearance since returning from the injured list.
“I was really happy with how I was seeing the ball,” Keith said Sunday before Game 2 of the ALDS, “and I was happy with my body physically, with how it felt to get a swing off and hit a ball hard. Hopefully, I can keep that going.”
Keith hadn’t played for the Tigers since Sept. 18.
The 24-year-old suffered right rib cage inflammation — he described it as an intercostal strain — on a swing that produced an RBI double in the second inning of a crucial September game, but the injury forced him to exit the game.
He watched from afar as the Tigers clinched a spot in the postseason against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, then he watched from the sidelines as the Tigers won the AL wild-card series against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field.
Finally, Keith is able to contribute on the field again.
“It’s been horrible having to watch from the couch,” Keith said. “I always want to go out there and help the team win.”
He is still managing pain from the injury.
“I’ve got a lot of meds in my body,” Keith said, “and we’re still doing rehab daily to keep progressing, but I’m good enough to go out there and give competitive at-bats.”
Getting Keith back for the ALDS is a big advantage for the Tigers.
He hasn’t developed into a star player yet, but he is the fifth-best hitter in the Tigers’ everyday lineup, trailing only Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter and Gleyber Torres.
Keith has settled in as the Tigers’ primary third baseman while also playing second base and first base, but he hasn’t been cleared to play defense.
For now, he is confined to designated hitter.
“I’m able to field and throw,” Keith said. “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.”
In 2025, Keith hit .256 with 13 home runs, 48 walks and 102 strikeouts across 137 games − the second year of his MLB career. He improved from a .689 OPS in 2024 to a .746 OPS in 2025.
More importantly, Keith boosted his walk rate (from 6.5% to 10.3%) and average exit velocity (from 87.8 mph to 90 mph). Drawing more walks and hitting the ball harder is exactly what the Tigers needed to see from Keith in 2025.
It was only his age-23 season.
“I’ve been able to slow the game down,” Keith said. “It’s still going fast at times, and I get sped up at times, but this year in June, July versus last year June, July, I felt a lot more calm. I was able to go out there and execute a plan.”
For now, Keith is focused on helping the Tigers advance past the ALDS in the 2025 postseason.
The Tigers are happy to have him back.
“The at-bat quality is something we missed while he was out,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday’s game. “Colt is a hit collect. He’s that guy when he gets going and has a controlled swing and can use the whole field, he’s an important cog in our order.”
Tarik Skubal buys Game 2 tickets for Seattle University
Left-hander Tarik Skubal is starting Game 2 for the Tigers.
The Tigers selected Skubal in the ninth round of the 2018 draft from Seattle University — his only Division I offer coming out of high school in Kingman, Arizona.
Skubal calls Phoenix home, but he treats Seattle like his second home, after pitching for Seattle University from 2015-18.
“It’s always good to get back to this city,” Skubal before Monday’s win in Game 1 of the ALDS. “This city means a lot to me. Obviously, I sept four years here.
“I was born in California, raised in Arizona, but I feel like I grew up here in college, becoming independent. This place will always have a special place in my heart.”
To give back, Skubal visited the Seattle U. baseball team − and he purchased Game 2 tickets for all 34 players. Seattle University’s campus is only two miles from T-Mobile Park.
Seven years ago, Skubal was one of those players with dreams of playing in the big leagues.
“I think it’s important to understand that it’s not a dream,” Skubal said. “You can dream about playing in the big leagues and getting drafted and all this stuff, but those things can become a reality for all those guys.”
Keider Montero’s 1st save
In Game 1, right-handed reliever Will Vest wanted to pitch three innings in a row. He kept the Mariners from scoring in the ninth and 10th while using just 19 pitches, so he asked to return for the 11th.
Hinch didn’t let him.
“He was working on so much adrenaline,” Hinch said after Saturday’s win, “but I didn’t even consider giving him a third (inning). It matters so much to these guys. They’re willing to do anything.”
Instead of sticking with Vest, Hinch turned to right-handed reliever Keider Montero to protect a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 11th inning, facing the top three hitters in the Mariners’ lineup.
Montero got the job done.
Randy Arozarena grounded out, Cal Raleigh popped out, and after Julio RodrÃguez singled on a changeup, Josh Naylor grounded out, ending the game.
For the Tigers, what happened in the 11th inning was more than just Montero’s first save — spanning 39 games in the regular season and three games in the postseason.
“It was a very rewarding win,” Hinch said.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him@EvanPetzold.
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