MLB Playoffs: Tigers vs Mariners ALDS Pick — Can the M’s Finally Break Through?

• For the Tigers-Mariners MLB ALDS, Seattle tries to break through to the ALCS for the first time since 2001
• Detroit recovered from its late-season collapse to beat the Guardians in the Wild Card round
• Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh had a historic season with 60 home runs and superlative defense
• Seattle won 4 of the 6 meetings in the regular season

Detroit Took Advantage of the Fresh Start of the Postseason

The Tigers could easily have let their late-season collapse that cost them the AL Central title carry over into the playoffs against the team, the Guardians, that overtook them. Instead, they regrouped and beat Cleveland by winning 2 of 3. The games were hard-fought and could have gone either way.

Tarik Skubal was brilliant in the opener with 7.2 innings pitched, allowing 1 run, 3 hits, and striking out 14. Midseason acquisition Kyle Finnegan was integral to the series win, pitching 3 hitless innings in 2 appearances. Veteran Jack Flaherty tossed 4.2 innings in the deciding game, allowing 3 hits and 1 run in 4.2 innings.

Javy Baez batted .455 in the series. Catcher Dillon Dingler had 1 hit, but it was a key home run.

Detroit looked just as good as they did early in the season when they were being hailed as the best team in baseball. While it was not an accurate description then any more than it would be now, they are beyond the collapse as they head to Seattle to face the Mariners.

Seattle Has One of the Most Evenly Distributed Rosters in MLB

Almost under the radar, Mariners President of Baseball Operations put together a team with a deep starting rotation, power, speed, and a solid bullpen that racks up the strikeouts. The team’s sudden star is catcher Cal Raleigh.

The switch-hitter is only now becoming a household name after his 60 home run, 125 RBI showing. He also stole 14 bases and is one of the better defensive catchers in the game.

The M’s offense is power-laden overall. Jorge Polanco had 26 homers, Julio Rodriguez hit 32 homers and stole 30 bases, Randy Arozarena hit 27 homers and stole 31. First baseman Josh Naylor had 9 homers and an .831 OPS after being acquired from the Diamondbacks at midseason. Eugenio Suarez had 13 homers after he too was acquired from Arizona.

Starting pitcher Bryan Woo had pectoral tightness toward the end of the season, but the club is hopeful he will be fine for the ALDS. Woo was Seattle’s best starter in 2025. The rest of the rotation is solid with veteran Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby. Bryce Miller struggled after an injury-shortened season.

Tigers vs Mariners MLB ALDS Pick

Oddsmakers have the Mariners heavily favored at -188 over the Tigers +164 for the series.

While the Tigers’ focus will be on stopping Raleigh from beating them, it ignores that the Mariners have a very deep offense that can score runs in myriad ways. They also have a solid starting rotation.

For Detroit, Skubal will likely only start one game, though if they get to a fifth game, it will be all hands on deck.

Seattle is rested and generally healthy. They have just too much firepower for the Tigers to keep up with them. The M’s will win the series in 4 games.