When X-Factor ALDS matchups are set for Yankees, Blue Jay, Mariners, and Tiger
USA Today Sports ‘Gabe Lackes breaks down ALD and players to see from Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners and Tigers
Sports Pulse
For the first time in 16 days, the Detroit Tigers will play their home game Tuesday afternoon, hosting the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.
The Tigers returned to Cleveland for a wildcard round after finishing the regular season on the road in a series with the Guardians and Red Sox, and played the first two games of Seattle’s ALDS. And how things have changed in my 16 days.
When they last won the field at Comerica Park, the Tigers were hearing boos on an eight-game winning streak that cost a central division title. Now they are looking after their business from home and are about to reach the AL Championship Series.
But first thing first. ALDS is tied up after the Tigers won one of two in Seattle. They have veteran Jack Flaherty (4.64 ERA in the regular season) on the mound with fellow Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert (6-6, 3.44).
But it can derail the excitement of returning home in Detroit. Thunderstorm bands are expected to move around the area this afternoon, with delays or postponements possible.
The Detroit Tigers finally reached Logan Gilbert at the bottom of the five innings.
Gilbert began the inning by ringing Dillon Dingler, and Dingler advanced second through a sacrifice bunt. Javy Baez’s single placed the runners for the first and third time.
It seemed like the Mariners might escape the unharmed innings, but they were unable to complete the double play, allowing Dingler to score. When Gleyber Torres took root, the score ended there.
The Mariners lead 4-1.
Detroit’s counterattack was completely flat after two more runs surpassed Seattle on the fourth top. Logan Gilbert fired up the middle of the Detriot lineup and finished the inning with a strikeout to Zack McKinsley.
Heading into the fifth inning, it’s still 4-0 Seattle.
After Suarez Homer, Flaherty struck Victor Robles after walking the next batter. It was his day. The Tigers brought Tommy Kahn, who quickly walked through JP Crawford. Kernel needed 13 pitches to record his first out, a strikeout to Landia Rosalenna.
Cal Lowry had two outs and sent the first pitch back in the middle to drive for Canzone, the first RBI in the series. It’s now a 4-0 mariner.
Luckily, the innings end after a high fly ball from Julio Rodriguez is tracked by Riley Green.
The Tigers were unable to answer Seattle’s two-run third place, and Seattle expanded their lead after Eugenio Suarez, who appeared as the Detroit Tiger, led the fourth top by blowing up a solo shot into the left field.
It’s now a 3-0 mariner.
Faced with a two-run deficit, the Tigers scored the runners with the score this inning. However, the Tigers struggled with runners in scoring this postseason, talliing only three hits in positions scored with men in 17 at-bats throughout the first two games of the series.
The responsibility fell to Colt Keith and brought the Tigers back into battle. Keith couldn’t do that.
He certainly gave his best efforts and sent the flyball to deep center field, but there was too much room to spare, and Giulio Rodriguez had no trouble securing the inning final.
I’ll go for the four innings. Seattle leads 2-0.
After four straight base runners allowed the lead three innings, Flaherty hit Giulio Rodriguez and Jorge Polanco to settle into the ditch.
Josh Naylor gave Tigers fans a bit of terror and sent a deep fly ball into the center of the right. However, the ball stays in the yard and breaks both Arozarena and Laurie at the base.
It’s 2-0 towards the bottom of the third.
After being held back on hitless in the first two innings, the Mariners scored three straight hits. This time, Randy Arozarena brought Flaherty back into the middle, allowing Crawford to score from second place.
It’s currently 2-0 Seattle.
Victor Robless led the third bottom with a double leading, putting the man in a scoring position without anyone out. This was the best chance to win a Seattle run. After all, this was their first base runner and was out less than two times.
They don’t even have to wait long for the fireworks to begin. JP Crawford’s single pushed Robles to number three as a throw from Riley Greene went home. However, the throw passes Dingler at the plate and Robble can score on a very close play. Meanwhile, Crawford has also reached 2 base.
Seattle leads 1-0, then another runner with a score at the top of the lineup.
Two innings and two hits from Logan Gilbert. Still, the Tigers don’t do much with bass runners. The Mariners fell silently, despite Dillon Dingler reaching the base on Line Drive to the center right.
This is preparation for a pitcher’s duel. This remains unconscious in the third one.
The veteran right side faced a bit of trouble in the second. Gleyber Torres’ second great play and a dig from Torkelson first drove Josh Naylor out of base pass. However, after that play, Flaherty was counted completely by Eugenio Suarez. Flaherty then threw a broken ball under the zone and placed Suarez, the first base runner of the Seattle game.
The two outs and the runners were the only runners first, and the Mariners couldn’t do any damage.
We are still tied to zero.
After Flaherty was strong first, the Tigers had the opportunity to take an early lead. We were watching the first hit of the first contest, but that wasn’t enough to land the Tigers run. It still can’t enter the second frame.
Obviously, the rain delays had little effect on Tigers starter Jack Flaherty. Flaherty placed Marina in turn. Instant Replay took a while to check for groundouts innings, but otherwise Flaherty had little trouble kicking off the game.
It’s heading scoreless towards the starting bottom.
Where to watch Tigers vs. Mariners Game 3
Game 3 of the American League Division Series is airing on FS1. Adam Amin will be responsible for play-by-play duties as AJ Pierzynski, Adam Wainwright and analysts, and Tom Verducci reporting from the field.
Watch the Mariners vs. Tigers on Fabo
What time is the Tigers vs. Mariners game today?
The first game of the double header of the American League Division Series is 4:08pm From Detroit.
Finally, the prophecy was fulfilled! I’m playing baseball in Detroit today.
MLB announced that the first pitch is expected to arrive at 7pm ET.
The game will air on FS1 until the start of the Blue Jays Yankees at 8pm. From that point on, the game will air on FS2. It can also be viewed in the MLB network and the Fox One app.
The game is a few hours behind at this point, but many fans have expressed excitement about the delay.
The game was originally scheduled to start at 4:08pm ET/1:08 PM PT. That was at least an hour before most fans left their jobs. That means they would have had to miss a part of the game. West Coast fans would have risked missing out on the entire game.
However, this delay not only gave fans a better opportunity to watch their favorite games, but also introduced the absurdity of MLB scheduling games when some fans were unable to attend or watch.
Detroit’s rain delays have been much longer than expected, and could even be reduced to the airtime of Game 3 of the series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees (Blue Jays lead 2-0).
If that happens, the Mariners and Tigers game 3 will shift to FS2, allowing Toronto vs. New York to play in FS1.
Game 3 was supposed to start at 4:08 PM ET, but it doesn’t seem to happen. The tarp is still in the fields and the rain is still falling heavily.
According to the National Weather Service, forecasts predict that rain over Detroit will last until 5pm local time.
In the top 5 series, Game 3 has the most important trend among them.
This is the starting pitcher for today’s game:
- Tigers: RHP JackFlaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA)
- Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert (6-6, 3.44 ERA)
Gilbert threw twice this year towards the Tigers. He recorded no wins or losses in either game. That said, the Mariners got 1-1 in those games, with the Mariners getting a total of nine runs and the Tigers getting an eight. Gilbert allowed five runs (3 wins) in 10.1 innings pitched in these two games.
Meanwhile, Flaherty threw only one game all year round with Seattle, resulting in an 8-4 loss. Flaherty surrendered two successful runs in five innings in that matchup.
- Randy Arozarena (R)LF
- Cal Raleigh(S)c
- Julio Rodriguez (R) cf
- Jorge Polanco (S) 2b
- Josh Naylor (L) 1b
- Eugenio Suárez (R) 3b
- Dominik Song (L) DH
- Victor Robles (R)RF
- JP Crawford (L)SS
- Kelly Carpenter (L) RF
- Gleyber Torres (R) 2b
- Keith’s Correis (L) DH
- Riley Green (L) LF
- Spencer Torkelson (R) 1b
- Zach McKinstry (L) 3b
- Dillon Dangles c
- Parker Meadows (L) cf
- Javier Báez (R) SS
The series is tied to 1-1
- Game 1: Saturday, October 4th – Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11 innings)
- Game 2: Sunday, October 5th – Mariners 3, Tigers 2
- Game 3: Tuesday, October 7th – Mariners Tigers, 4:08pm
- Game 4: Wednesday, October 8th – Tigers’ Mariners, Time TBA
- Game 5: Friday, October 10th (If necessary) – Mariners Tiger, Time TBA
