The Seattle Mariners had their pulse racing after all that drama of their first two games. But lucky for them, Game 3 for them was free of that playoff pulse, all thanks to the Detroit Tigers. Because, forget Seattle not wanting the Tigers to shove and trouble them, Detroit itself ensured their line of defense just let their silence do all the talking in the game. No literally!

It all started when Seattle opened the scoring in the third inning skillfully and at the right time. Victor Robles doubled down the left field line and moved to third on a bloop single by J.P. Crawford. Then they benefited from a play that had people shake their heads. Left fielder Riley Greene fielded the ball and threw towards cutoff man Zach McKinstry. The 30-year-old couldn’t cut it off, and the throw ricocheted off catcher Dillon Dingler and dribbled behind the plate, which allowed Robles to slide home.

Then two pitches later, Randy Arozarena added an RBI single to make it 2-0, and that basically hampered Detroit and set the tone for the game.

Tigers are now in a do-or-die situation, and Trevor Plouffe highlighted this massive misplay in his podcast, saying, “I think the blame from bottom to top goes to Flaherty, McKinstry, and then Dingler. How does Dingler not just stop that ball? I’m sorry, dude. Like, sometimes balls get by you. And I know McKinstry should have just cut it off, but he lets it go. Uh, I don’t know how that ball didn’t get stopped. And Jack is just like, There are two guys… He was running the other way, and it was to his left, and maybe he’s just like, “Ah, somebody’s going to get it.” I don’t know. That’s that’s that was, uh, that’s that sums up their night right there.” 

And it’s not just the Tigers’ misplay that ended their night, right? Mariners’ bats simply refused to stop. Eugenio Suarez ended his 0-21 skid with a 422-foot homer off Jack Flaherty again. And then Cal Raleigh followed with a two-RBI single. Crawford’s sixth-inning shot and an eighth-inning sac fly, while Raleigh capped the scoring with a ninth-inning two-run homer. Plus, one can’t forget Logan Gilbert and his six strong innings, seven strikeouts, and zero walks—which gave the Mariners the stability they needed on the mound. Then Andres Munoz slammed the door in the ninth, which stopped Detroit from closing that gap.

Flaherty and McKinstry both stumbled when the team needed them the most. Now Detroit is one loss away from elimination, and the pressure is huge. Even A.J. Hinch is feeling the pressure and expressing it to the fans, too. This game was not a win for Seattle but a warning for Detroit—one lapse, and they would be watching the games from home.

AJ Hinch takes a gamble as Tigers fight to stay alive

For the Detroit Tigers, it’s an all-hands-on-deck moment, right? Given that they are facing elimination in Game 4 of the ALDS. Of course, fans hoped that their franchise star, Tarik Skubal, would take the mound to do everything possible to limit the Mariners. But alas, a surprising decision by A.J. Hinch—Skubal will not be there, and Hinch shut that door, and he is not budging.

Skubal was electric in Game 2 with seven innings of two-run baseball and nine strikeouts. He will not pitch in Game 4, and Hinch confirmed before the game that the lefty is being saved for Game 5, potentially, which is on Saturday. Hinch said, “No, Tarik is going to start Game 5. He’s done his normal prep to be prepared for an all-in Game 5.” Not that this is a bold call for sure, but also a risky one.

The Detroit Tigers’ season is legit hanging by a thread, and their best arm will be sitting out in what could be their final game. Still, Hinch is willing to take the bet on his bullpen and hopes that the team can muscle out just one more win to bring life back. If they can do that, it will be a dream scene for them—Skubal will be on the mound for a winner-takes-all game. Given that now, electric Skubal was on his last outing, that’s what fans are hoping for. Just this win for them is enough.