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Seattle Mariners get hype going for ALDS Game 5 vs Detroit Tigers

Ken Griffey Jr. got the T-Mobile Park crowd hyped ahead of Game 5 of the ALDS vs. the Detroit Tigers on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025.

The Detroit Tigers are facing down the most important game of their season, one win away from advancing in the playoffs – but also one loss away from seeing their season suddenly end.

The Tigers are playing the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the ALDS on Friday, Oct. 10, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. First pitch occured at 8:08 p.m. ET, and the game can be seen on Fox.

Game-time temperature will be around 59 degrees with a slight chance of rain, but it shouldn’t affect the game’s start time since T-Mobile Park uses a retractable roof to protect the stadium from adverse weather conditions. (The roof’s open or closed status is decided during the playoffs by an MLB official, not the home team.)

WEATHER OR NOT? Detroit Tigers rain delay won’t happen in Seattle, but will roof be open for ALDS Game 5?

On the mound for the Tigers is American League Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal, pitching in a winner-take-all ALDS Game 5 for the second consecutive season. Skubal and the Tigers hope tonight’s game goes better than it did in 2024, when the Cleveland Guardians ended Detroit’s season with a 7-3 Game 5 win.

Opposing Skubal for the Mariners is right-handed starter George Kirby, who gave up two earned runs in five innings in Game 1, which the Tigers ultimately won 3-2 in 11 innings.

The winner of this matchup will play the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALCS, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 12 at 8:03 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Tigers have not appeared in an ALCS since 2013, while the Mariners last played in an ALCS in 2001.

The Tigers are searching for their first World Series appearance since 2012 and their first championship since 1984. Meanwhile, the Mariners are searching for their first pennant; they are the only MLB franchise never to have not reached the World Series, dating back to their founding as an expansion franchise in 1977.

We’ll have live updates from this critical Game 5 right here.

Celebrate 125 years of Detroit Tigers history with our new book!

Detroit Tigers live updates, ALDS Game 5 vs Mariners

This section will be updated after the game begins.

End 1st: Tigers 0, Mariners 0

Tigers starter Tarik Skubal allowed a one-out single to catcher Cal Raleigh on a tough changeup in the bottom outside corner, giving the Mariners an early baserunner. Skubal struck out center fielder Julio Rodríguez three pitches later and struck out Jorge Polanco, the man who punished him for two solo home runs in Game 2, to end the first inning.

Middle 1st: Tigers 0, Mariners 0

Designated hitter Kerry Carpenter led off with a line drive single towards Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford that Crawford couldn’t corral, giving the Tigers a leadoff runner on base.

Second baseman Gleyber Torres struck out three pitches later, while Riley Greene turned on a first-pitch fastball to force a fielder’s choice to second base, nixing Carpenter on the bases and putting Greene on first. Mariners starter George Kirby then ended the inning by striking out first baseman Spencer Torkelson.

Three of the four former MLB stars on Fox’s pregame panel predicted the Mariners would win Game 5.

Dontrelle Willis: Tigers win 3-2.Derek Jeter: Mariners win 3-2.Alex Rodriguez: Mariners win 4-3.David Ortiz: Mariners win 6-2.

Mariners starter George Kirby gave up four earned runs in his only regular-season appearance against the Tigers in 2025. Here are his career numbers against today’s Tigers lineup (regular season only).

RF Kerry Carpenter: 4-for-8, 4 HRs.2B Gleyber Torres: 4-for-9, 3 Ks.LF Riley Greene: 2-for-9, 5 Ks.1B Spencer Torkelson: 2-for-5.DH Colt Keith: not faced.3B Zach McKinstry: 1-for-7, 3 Ks.C Dillon Dingler: not faced.CF Parker Meadows: 1-for-5, 3 Ks.SS Javier Báez: 1-for-11, HR, 3 Ks.

Here are the regular season career numbers for Tarik Skubal against today’s Mariners lineup.

LF Randy Arozarena: 5-for-18, 2B, 7 Ks.C Cal Raleigh: 2-for-9, HR, 3 Ks.CF Julio Rodríguez: 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.

Tigers reliever Will Vest was drafted by Detroit in the 12th round of the 2017 draft, eventually making his Tigers debut in the 2022 season.

But before that, Vest made his MLB debut with the Seattle Mariners, breifly pitching in Seattle as a Rule 5 pickup in 2021 before returning to the Tigers’ organization later in the season.

Vest says he learned a lot about his experience in Seattle, and he has parlayed it into a critical role with the Tigers. And he may now get a shot to finish off the Mariners tonight in the same stadium where his career started.

Mariners manager Dan Wilson may not use a traditional reliever tonight against the Tigers.

He says that starters Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller (who pitched in Game 4 on Wednesday) are all available to pitch today for the Mariners. That means that the Tigers may face nothing but starting pitching tonight as Detroit hammered Seattle’s relievers in Game 4.

Tigers third baseman Zach McKinstry made his first All-Star team in 2025, taking flight in his third season with Detroit. Also taking flight, according to McKinstry, are seagulls — which he somehow connected to baseball before Game 5 on Friday.

Zach McKinstry: “I was looking out the window today, and I see a few seagulls fly over the bus. They’re meant to fly, right? I’m a baseball player. I was meant to go out there and play baseball, so just go out there and do what you’re made to do and enjoy it.” #Tigers

— Evan Petzold (@EvanPetzold) October 10, 2025

Though it appears to be sunny in Seattle currently, T-Mobile Park in Seattle has its roof currently closed.

That could be a sneaky advantage for the Tigers tonight, as the Mariners have hit considerably worse (albeit in a small 10-game sample) with the roof closed this season than they have with the roof open.

With the lefty Tarik Skubal on the mound, the Mariners swapped the right-hander Eugenio Suárez and the left-handed Josh Naylor in the batting order, while also replacing designated hitter Dominic Canzone with Mitch Garver.

After hitting the go-ahead home run in Game 4, Riley Greene has been moved up to the No. 3 spot in the lineup, with Colt Keith dropping down the No. 5. Otherwise, it’s the same nine starters the Tigers put out against the Mariners in Game 4.

What channel is Tigers vs Mariners Game 5?TV channel: Fox.First pitch: 8:08 p.m. ET.Streaming: Fox One, Fubo.Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 in Detroit).

Watch Tigers-Mariners ALDS Game 5 on Fubo

Tigers vs Mariners probable pitchers in Game 5

The Tigers-Mariners Game 5 pitching matchup is set:

Tigers LHP Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA in the regular season) vs. Mariners RHP George Kirby (10-8, 4.21 ERA).

In a must-win game for the Tigers, they’ll have the ace of their staff on the mound. But will it be enough to notch a win on the road this time? Skubal started Game 2 for the Tigers and was dominant other than two solo home runs from Jorge Polanco, but the Tigers still lost 3-2.

Kirby pitched in Game 1 for the Mariners, allowing two runs in five innings.

MORE: Rookie Troy Melton emerges as Detroit Tigers’ X-factor in ALDS, wants to pitch in Game 5

Tigers prediction, ALDS Game 5 vs Mariners

Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press: Not only is Tarik Skubal the Tigers’ ace, but he’s also the best pitcher in the world. He has already made three starts (regular season and playoffs) against the Mariners in 2025. Those results for the Tigers: a 3-2 loss April 2, a 12-3 loss July 11 and a 3-2 loss Sunday. This prediction is easy: The Mariners aren’t beating the Tigers in four Skubal starts in the same year, so expect a win for the Tigers — and a trip to the ALCS for the first time since 2013. Game 5 pick: Tigers 2, Mariners 1.

Tigers odds, ALDS Game 5 vs Mariners

The Tigers are a slight favorite to beat the Mariners on Friday and advance to the ALCS.

Over/under: 6 runs.Moneyline: Tigers (-120), Mariners (+100).Tigers vs Mariners schedule playoff series

Best-of-five series, all times Eastern.

Saturday, Oct. 4, Game 1: Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11).Sunday, Oct. 5, Game 2: Mariners 3, Tigers 2.Tuesday, Oct. 7, Game 3: Mariners 8, Tigers 4.Wednesday, Oct. 8, Game 4: Tigers 9, Mariners 3.Friday, Oct. 10, Game 5: Tigers at Mariners, 8:08 p.m. on Fox.ALCS scheduleGame 1: DET/SEA @ Toronto, Sunday, Oct. 12 (8:03 p.m. ET, Fox).Game 2: DET/SEA @ Toronto, Monday, Oct. 13 (4:38 p.m. ET if Cubs advance to NLCS, 5:03 p.m. if Brewers advance to NLCS; Fox/FS1).Game 3: Toronto @ DET/SEA, Wednesday, Oct. 15 (Fox, time TBD).Game 4: Toronto @ DET/SEA, Thursday, Oct. 16 (Fox, time TBD).Game 5: Toronto @ DET/SEA, Friday, Oct. 17 (Fox, time TBD).Game 6: DET/SEA @ Toronto, Sunday, Oct. 19 (Fox, time TBD).Game 7: DET/SEA @ Toronto, Monday, Oct. 20 (Fox, time TBD).

You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com