The Detroit Tigers are heading back home with the ALDS tied at 1-1 in the 2025 MLB playoffs.
After beating the Seattle Mariners in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, Oct. 4, the Tigers dropped Game 2 on Sunday with a 3-2 loss despite an eighth-inning comeback that saw the Tigers erase a two-run deficit and tie the game.
Most teams would feel great about their odds to win a postseason series after stealing homefield advantage, and indeed the Tigers have the edge in some respects based on recent history.
But the Tigers had a chance to take a commanding lead with two shots to wrap up the series at home, only to suffer another late-inning bullpen meltdown.
The Tigers will now lean on veteran starter Jack Flaherty to try to re-take the series lead in Game 3, with Casey Mize set to make the home start in Game 4.
Here are some key things to know about Game 3, along with a prediction from our MLB expert Christian Romo.
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Tigers vs Mariners prediction for ALDS Game 3
Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press: The Tigers won the game they were supposed to lose in Seattle, and then lost the game they were supposed to win. That still puts them in the driver’s seat as they head back to Comerica Park, but also makes any game going forward very difficult to predict.
One consistency about these Tigers so far in the postseason is the bats are essentially under water. Only Kerry Carpenter has an OPS above .800 among Detroit batters with at least 20 plate appearances in the 2025 playoffs, while six of their nine qualified batters currently have a below-average wRC+. That’s a formula for failure, especially with Mariners starter Logan Gilbert only giving up three earned runs in his two regular-season starts against the Tigers in 2025.
Flaherty will put up another solid start and the bullpen should be better with rest, but the Mariners will take Game 3 in another low-scoring affair. The pick: Mariners 2, Tigers 1.
What time is next Tigers game vs Mariners?
What channel is Tigers vs Mariners Game 3?
Mariners vs Tigers streaming link
You can stream Game 3 on Fubo, which offers a free trial for potential new subscribers.
Watch MLB playoffs on Fubo
Tigers vs Mariners probable pitchers in Game 3
The Tigers-Mariners Game 3 pitching matchup Tuesday afternoon in Detroit is set:
Flaherty tossed 4⅔ innings of one-run ball Thursday in Game 3 of the wild-card series at the Cleveland Guardians.
Gilbert has made one postseason start in his career. In 2022, he allowed three runs in 5⅓ innings in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Houston Astros. He was the 2025 Opening Day starter for the Mariners.
How to buy Tigers playoff tickets at Comerica Park
For the second straight year, fans in the Motor City can catch the Tigers in the playoffs at home.
Game 3 will be back in Detroit, where the majority of Tigers fans will get their first chance to see the team in the postseason this year.
Tickets for the home game are already on sale on third-party sites like StubHub, where tickets are not cheap, with the cheapest ticket listed around $134.
Buy Detroit Tigers playoff tickets on StubHub
Tigers vs Mariners schedule playoff series
Best-of-five series, all times Eastern.
*If necessary
Tigers vs Mariners probable pitchers for ALDS
Here are the starting pitchers for the rest of the playoff series between the Tigers and Mariners:
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers vs Seattle Mariners Game 3 score prediction in ALDS
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
