DETROIT – After rallying to win Game 4, the Tigers are back in Seattle to take on the Mariners in the last game of the division series.
One team’s season will end, and the other will head to Toronto to play the white-hot Blue Jays in the American League championship series.
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The Tigers will start Tarik Skubal, and the Mariners will send George Kirby to the mound. It is safe to assume that for both teams, it will be an all-hands-on deck day, if needed.
Kirby made the start against the Tigers in Game 1 of the series, pitching five innings, surrendering six hits, two runs, a walk, and eight strikeouts. He was ultimately given a no-decision in the game that the Tigers went on to win in extra innings.
Kerry Carpenter is most notoriously the Tiger with the best numbers against Kirby. He has five career hits against Kirby, all five of which are home runs.
Outside of him, here are a few Tigers who have good career numbers against George Kirby:
Riley Greene – 4-for-12, home run, 5 RBI, 2 walks
Colt Keith – 5-for-10, double, walk
Jake Rogers – 3-for-7, 2 home runs
Gleyber Torres – 5-for-12, 2 doubles
The Mariners, in turn, have won both times Tarik Skubal started against them in the regular season and his start against them in Game 2. A few Mariners have seen Skubal well in their careers as well:
Randy Arozarena – 6-for-21, double, 2 walks
J.P. Crawford – 5-for-8, double, walk
Jorge Polanco – 9-for-29, double, 3 home runs
The Tigers undoubtedly have their best chance to win with Skubal on the mound.
The key to them winning today will be the offense. Not only do they need to hit, but they need to string together multiple hits, especially with runners in scoring position, in order to drive in runs.