As the ALDS’s shift from Toronto to the Bronx and Seattle to Detroit, the four teams find themselves in very different situations. In Detroit, the Tigers look to capitalize on the homefield advantage they
wrestled from the Mariners and win the pivotal Game 3 in a tied series. In New York, the Yankees will look to stave off elimination after being dominated twice North of the Border.
Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, 4:08pm ET*
Probable pitchers: RHP Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA, 188 K) vs. RHP Logan Gilbert (6-6, 3.44 ERA, 173 K)
Series tied 1-1
*Start delayed due to inclement weather in Detroit*
Both of the matchups in Seattle were extremely well-pitched and extremely close, so expect more of the same in the pivotal Game 3. The Tigers took Game 1 in extra, with Zach McKinstry’s RBI single in the 11th proving the difference in a 3-2 Detroit win. In Game 2, Luis Castillo and the Mariners’ bullpen outdueled reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and Julio Rodríguez provided the winning run on a double in the 8th, propelling Seattle to a 3-2 win of their own.
Mariners’ starter Logan Gilbert had a strong showing in his only outing in Detroit this year, putting up a line of 5.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R (0 ER) and 9 Ks in a 8-4 Mariners win. The Tigers counter with Jack Flaherty, who in that same game pitched to a line of 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K while allowing two home runs. Homefield advantage could prove pivotal for the Tigers, as the Mariners had the worst road record of any of the AL’s playoff teams.
New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 8:08pm ET
Probable pitchers: LHP Carlos Rodón (18-9, 3.09 ERA, 203 K) vs. RHP Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA, 37 K)
After a gutsy, emotional series victory over the Red Sox in the Wildcard round, the Yankees have completely failed to show up against their other AL East rival. Powered by two Alejandro Kirk home runs, the Blue Jays bludgeoned the Bronx Bombers 10-1 in Game 1. Then, off the back of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s 4th-inning grand slam, the Blue Jays beat down the Yankees once again in Game 2, winning 13-7.
The fate of the Yankees’ season now rests on the left arm of All-Star Carlos Rodón. The 32-year-old southpaw was excellent in Yankee Stadium this season, pitching to a 2.98 home ERA in 15 starts. He never faced the Blue Jays in the Bronx, but the Yankees did end up as the losers both times Rodón pitched in Toronto, despite the lefty posting a 3.60 ERA across those two outings.
