The first two games of the Seattle Mariners’ American League Division Series clash with the Detroit Tigers have featured quite a bit of edge-of-your-seat viewing.

ALDS Game 3 Lineups: Josh Naylor playing for Seattle Mariners

The Mariners and Tigers traded a pair of one-run wins, setting up an all-important Game 3 on Tuesday afternoon in Detroit.

The bats have been somewhat silent for both teams as each have combined to put up just five runs apiece through the first two contests. And for the Mariners, much of their offensive production has come from just a few players.

Two who have rose to the occasion early on for the M’s are stars Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh. The duo combined for all six of Seattle’s hits in a 3-2 Game 1 loss, with Rodríguez driving in both runs on a solo homer and RBI single. In Game 2, they hit back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning as Rodríguez drove in Raleigh for the go-ahead run in a 3-2 win.

“Both Julio Rodriguez and Cal Raleigh, at least over these two games, have shown that they are ready to meet the moment,” ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan told Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Tuesday. “And the way that they pulled off Game 2 and the circumstances after it gets tied, answering right back with your two best players and back-to-back doubles – I just thought it was really, really impressive.”

For as stressful as postseason baseball can be, Passan believes the performances from Rodríguez and Raleigh can bring a level of comfort to Mariners fans.

“It says a lot about, as a fan, how you can feel watching these things. The inherent nervousness that comes from these games, it’s palpable,” Passan said. “But when Julio steps up, when Cal steps up, you feel a little bit of comfort. It’s like a warm blanket surrounding you and saying, ‘It will be OK, friends. You don’t have to hyperventilate.’”

Jeff Passan’s biggest takeaway from Julio Rodriguez & Cal Raleigh through two #Mariners playoff games?

“They are READY to meet the moment.”

Full convo w/ @BrockHuard & @TheMikeSalk 📺: https://t.co/68JSkA3syJ https://t.co/Yr2XCBEQsf pic.twitter.com/NWEnqNMqQ1

— Seattle Sports (@SeattleSports) October 7, 2025

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player in this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

More on Seattle Mariners’ ALDS vs. Detroit Tigers

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• Why Jon Morosi still predicts Mariners to win ALDS
• Castillo’s gritty outing an unsung part of Mariners’ Game 2 win
• Rain could impact Mariners’ ALDS Game 3 in Detroit
• Three things we’ve learned so far from Mariners’ ALDS vs Detroit