The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners are at a crucial point in their American League Division Series. The first two games between these two evenly matched teams were close and required clutch play. Both games ended with the same score of 3–2, with each team relying on late-game heroics and good work from their bullpens to get out of T-Mobile Park. The close wins show how close Detroit and Seattle are, making Tuesday’s game very important for getting the upper hand at home.

But untimely rain threw a spanner in those plans. The Tigers said they were going to postpone the game less than an hour before it was supposed to start at 4.08 PM EDT because of bad weather in the Detroit area. The Tigers said, “Today’s Game 3 of the ALDS will begin in a delay due to inclement weather in the area.” They promised to keep fans updated as the weather changed. There was no new start time right away, so players and fans were left in the dark while weather systems moved through Michigan.

Hall of Famer Gary Sheffield’s son, Sheffield Jr, took to social media to voice frustration about baseball’s vulnerability to weather interruptions. “Every single stadium in Major League Baseball should have a retractable roof,” he stated. “Weather shouldn’t ever delay a game all year. Total nonsense that we’re about to delay a postseason game when everyone’s expecting a game.” His comments reflected the feelings of many who wondered why baseball in October was still affected by the weather when there were technological solutions.

Seattle sends Logan Gilbert to the mound. He had a strong finish to the regular season, showing that he had better control. Detroit sends Jack Flaherty to the mound, hoping to make up for a bad season. Both pitchers have different stories going into this important game.

Jack Flaherty steps up for the Tigers as Logan Gilbert looks to extend the Mariners’ fight

Flaherty is under a lot of pressure because Detroit wants to win this series on its home turf. The 29-year-old right-hander showed he could handle the pressure of the playoffs just days before against Cleveland, where he struck out four batters in 4.2 innings and gave up only one run. That performance showed that he can rise to the occasion when it matters most, and the Tigers will use that momentum as the rain stops and Game 3 begins.

Flaherty’s journey is not simple. He went back to Detroit for a second time after winning a World Series ring with Los Angeles in 2024. His 2025 season was inconsistent, with an 8-15 record and 4.64 ERA that hid an actual strength: he struck out 188 batters in 161 innings, showing that he could miss bats even when his overall results were bad. Flaherty pitched five innings against Seattle earlier this season in July, giving up two runs on four hits.

Seattle sends Logan Gilbert, who is 28 years old, to Comerica Park. He knows a lot about the Detroit lineup. Gilbert has pitched against the Tigers twice this season, and both times he was at the top of his game. In April, he struck out ten batters even though he gave up three runs in five innings. He was even better in July, when he struck out nine batters and gave up only two runs in 5⅓ innings.

Gilbert’s season stats show that he was consistent: he had a 6-6 record, a 3.44 ERA, and 173 strikeouts in 25 games. His last game was against the Dodgers on September 27. He pitched five innings, gave up two runs on four hits, and struck out five batters. His late-season form was key—he finished the regular season with a 2.52 ERA over his last seven starts, which means he is playing his best baseball as October begins.