What Detroit Tigers learned from previous elimination game
Dillon Dingler spoke a few hours ahead of a must-win Game 4 in the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025 at Comerica Park
The Detroit Tigers are still alive in the 2025 playoffs — and considering who is on the mound for Game 5, they have a good chance of advancing, too.
The Tigers will face the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Friday, Oct. 10, in Game 5 on the ALDS. The game is currently scheduled to air on FS1 at 4:40 p.m. ET, but could move to 8:08 p.m. ET on Fox if the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.
And on the mound for the Tigers will be 2025 AL Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal, the team’s lefty ace tasked with the same challenge that ended the Tigers’ season in 2024.
Skubal was arguably better during the 2025 regular season than he was in his 2024 AL Cy Young season, going 13-6 with a 2.21 ERA over 195â…“ innings and 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He has also made two starts in the 2025 postseason, with a 1.84 ERA over 14â…” innings, including a no decision in a 3-2 Game 2 loss against the Mariners on Sunday, Oct. 5.
The Tigers need a win to advance to their first ALCS since 2013. And if all of this seems familiar, it’s because Skubal was put in the same situation during the 2024 playoffs, making the start for the Tigers in Game 5 of the 2024 ALDS on the road against the Cleveland Guardians. In that game, Skubal gave up a game-turning grand slam to Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas in the fifth inning, one that essentially ended the Tigers season in the Guardians 7-3 series-clinching win.
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Skubal and the Tigers hope for a different outcome this time around.
The Mariners have not yet announced a starter for Game 5, though there’s a decent chance the Mariners will go to Game 1 starter George Kirby, who should be fully rested for the start. Seattle could also use Game 2 starter Luis Castillo, either in as a starter or in long relief, as he would be pitching with the same number of rest days as Skubal.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com