MLB Baseball BETTING PREVIEW - Detroit Tigers @ Seattle Mariners

MLB Baseball

2025-10-04 - Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners

A Sports Betting Preview by FirstDown

Detroit Tigers @ Seattle Mariners
United States : MLB Baseball Playoff Divisional Series Game 1
Saturday 4th October 2025 - Scheduled 8:38pm
1:38am (British Time)

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Preview

Every team has big ambitions once they have made it through to the Playoffs, but Seattle Mariners fans are simply hoping that the team can at least reach the World Series for the first time. A strong end to the regular season after some very good moves in the trade market has certainly given those fans belief that the Mariners could go all the way over the next month, and there is a really good balance to this team.

The Mariners will be hosting the first two games of this Divisional Round Series against the Detroit Tigers, who beat American League Central Winners Cleveland Guardians in three games in the Wild Card Round.

After only scoring three runs in the first two games, which were split, the Detroit Tigers managed to pull six across Home Plate in the deciding Game 3 and earn their spot in the Divisional Round. If this Series was being played at the end of August, the Tigers would have been a real favourite, but the Wild Card Series success has not completely turned opinion about this team and the Seattle Mariners are rightly down as favourites when the Divisional Round begins.

It has been announced that George Kirby will be given the honour of opening Game 1 after finishing the regular season with a 10-8 record and a 4.21 ERA in twenty-three starts made.

He pitched in a couple of post-season games in 2022 and George Kirby's sole start in that Playoff run saw him keep the Houston Astros scoreless in 7 Innings thrown. George Kirby also ended the regular season with a 2.95 ERA in his last four starts, but in his sole start against the Detroit Tigers, the pitcher allowed four runs in 5 Innings thrown.

The Mariners do have the superior starting pitching options and the real issue for the Detroit Tigers is that they will have to go with an opener for Game 1 and rely on what has been a shaky bullpen.

The suggestion is that Detroit will hand the ball to Troy Melton, although they are not expecting the rookie to go too deep. He only started four games in the regular season, while Melton gave up four runs in Game 2 of the Wild Card Round against the Cleveland Guardians.

That came in a relief outing and Troy Melton only recorded a single Out before having to be withdrawn.

Troy Melton did start in his last regular season appearance and he held the same Guardians to a single run in almost 4 Innings and that may give the Detroit Tigers some confidence in giving the pitcher some time. He will be facing this tough Seattle Mariners batting lineup for the first time in his career.

Seattle won the last four games between these two teams in the regular season.

Prediction

In a best of five Series, no game means less than another, but there is this feeling that the Detroit Tigers are going to be using the bullpen in this opener.

That may mean not wanting to risk any of the big arms and then hoping Tarik Skubal can win what is likely to be two scheduled games and one of either Jack Flaherty or Casey Mize can lead the team to another success.

George Kirby is going out first for the Mariners and he is likely to be well backed by the batting lineup, which could lead to a solid opening win for Seattle.

They beat the Tigers in each of the last four regular season games and Seattle may end up pulling away in this Game 1 of the Divisional Round Series with Detroit perhaps taking a short breath before going again after their Wild Card exploits.

The Pick :

Seattle Mariners 6-2 Detroit Tigers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Seattle Mariners - 1.5 Runs at +105 with Bovada