MLB Baseball

2025-10-07 - Seattle Mariners at Detroit Tigers

A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown

Seattle Mariners @ Detroit Tigers
United States : MLB Baseball Playoff Divisional Series Game 3
Tuesday 7th October 2025 - Scheduled 4:08pm
9:08pm (British Time)

Preview

This Divisional Round Series has been very close through two games and you have to believe that most would have predicted the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers to be tied at 1-1 through the first couple of games played in the North West of the nation.

However, the feeling was that the Seattle Mariners would have the edge in Game 1 and that Tarik Skubal would lead the Detroit Tigers to a success in Game 2.

Instead the scrip was flipped and the Tigers may feel they have lost an opportunity after another solid showing from their ace pitcher. The Tigers batting lineup has continued to struggle though and that meant offering up no support in the time Tarik Skubal spent on the mound and Detroit fell a little short even after an 8th Inning rally.

The Mariners middle of the order had some big hits on Sunday to drag the team over the line and there is going to be a real belief about the team heading over to Detroit. They were clearly the better team in Game 2 and that will give Seattle confidence, although they would love to get through to the American League Championship Series without having to face Skubal again.

Seattle will give the ball to Logan Gilbert in Game 3, although most anticipated he would have been given the start to open the Series. The suggestion from the Mariners is that they have felt Gilbert can be a little more solid on the road compared with George Kirby and Luis Castillo so there is some pressure on the starting pitcher who had a solid 3.44 ERA in the regular season.

His sole Playoff experience is starting a game in Houston in 2022 and Logan Gilbert pitched into the 6th Inning, although was saddled with three runs.

It has been a few years since Logan Gilbert last pitched in the post-season, but he should be lacking for confidence having concluded September with a 2-0 record and 2.30 ERA from five starts made. He gave up four runs in almost 18 road Innings thrown last month, while Gilbert kept the Detroit Tigers from a single earned run into the 6th Inning when throwing in this ballpark in July.

Logan Gilbert was 0-1 from two starts against the Detroit Tigers, but he only allowed three earned runs from over 10 Innings thrown and this Seattle batting lineup is stronger now than when he lsat faced this opponent.

The Tigers will counter by handing the ball to veteran Jack Flaherty who started the Game 3 Wild Card win over the Cleveland Guardians. He was one out away from completing 5 Innings and Flaherty only allowed a single earned run in his time on the mount, although he did not factor into the decision after the Tigers broke that game open late in the day.

Jack Flaherty has to have a lot of confidence from that start and this is an experienced pitcher who started twice in the World Series last year.

After a mixed end to the regular season, that Playoff start last week has to give Jack Flaherty plenty of belief. He faced the Seattle Mariners once this season when Flaherty held them to two runs in 5 Innings thrown and did not factor into the decision.

Prediction

Both of the Divisional Round Games played in this Series have ended in the same 3-2 scoreline and the split in Seattle means there is all to play for when the teams meet again in Detroit.

Pitching is proving to be vitally important, but it is the timing of the batting lineup coming up strong that has proved decisive in both games.

You do have to favour the Seattle Mariners, who have been more consistent and have a big middle order that can break open any game. They have piled up more Hits in the Series so far, while the Detroit batting slump is now going back weeks and they are being forced to have the pitching starters and bullpen to throw through the pressure.

Jack Flaherty has plenty of experience and that was key to the outing in Game 3 of the Wild Card win over the Cleveland Guardians.

However, he has been inconsistent and even pitching at home has not made much of a difference with some up and down performances recorded. The starter has not been beaten by the Seattle Mariners, but Jack Flaherty does have a career 4.22 ERA against them.

Logan Gilbert has had his struggles on the road, but he pitched well at Comerica Park earlier this season and ended the regular season by allowing just four runs in almost 18 Innings thrown in road games. That should give him confidence and the Mariners batting lineup can produce the big hits to take the lead in the Series and needing one more win from two games left to play.