The Detroit Tigers wasted no time shaking off their late-season slump, clinching a spot in the 2025 American League Division Series with a gritty 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the wild-card round on Thursday night. It was a decisive finish at Progressive Field, where Wenceel Pérez's bases-loaded two-run single in the seventh inning broke things open, sending the Tigers to face the Seattle Mariners starting this weekend. Indeed, this matchup feels like a fresh chapter after Detroit's wild September collapse, one that saw them drop a 15-game division lead.
Game 1 kicks off Saturday, October 4, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, with the Mariners holding home-field advantage as the No. 2 seed against the plucky No. 6 Tigers. Start time could land at 1:08 p.m. Pacific if the Boston Red Sox had advanced from the other wild-card series, but with the New York Yankees moving on, it's set for 5:38 p.m. PT on FS1. The broadcast schedule reflects MLB's quick adjustments post-wild card, ensuring prime viewing slots. Game 2 follows Sunday, October 5, at 5:03 p.m. PT, also at Seattle's ballpark—televised nationally, of course.
Should the series extend, Game 3 shifts to Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, October 7, at a time yet to be finalized, but likely evening hours to accommodate East Coast fans. Games 4 and 5, if necessary, would wrap up there on October 8 and 9. The Tigers' rotation remains a question mark after Tarik Skubal's dominant Game 1 shutout performance earlier in the week, but Casey Mize's shaky outing in Game 2 exposed some vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, Seattle's Bryan Woo could be available, adding intrigue to their pitching edge.
However, momentum swings in playoffs, and Detroit's resilience—evident in Dillon Dingler's homer and that seventh-inning rally—might just unsettle the Mariners' steady regular season. This ALDS promises tight contests, with travel and fatigue playing roles for the road-weary Tigers. One wonders how deep this underdog story will run before the bracket resets again.