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Detroit (1-0) at Seattle (0-1)
- When: Oct 5 2025, 8:03 PM
- Where: T-Mobile Park, Seattle
- Where to watch: Fox Sports 1
Detroit vs Seattle MLB Playoff Preview & Pick
Moneyline: Detroit -155
Spread: Detroit -1.5 (+135)
Total: 6.5
Detroit Tigers Betting Preview
The Tigers came into Seattle and stole Game 1 of the ALDS in dramatic fashion, outlasting the Mariners 3-2 in an 11-inning grinder. Now with momentum on their side, Detroit hands the ball to their ace and potential repeat Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal.
Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA) is no stranger to the Pacific Northwest. A Seattle University alum, the lefty will pitch in front of dozens of players and staff from his alma mater Sunday night. Coming off a dominant wild-card performance where he punched out 14 Guardians and tied a Tigers postseason record, Skubal enters Game 2 locked in.
Despite his career year, Seattle has tagged Skubal twice already in 2025. But playoff baseball is a different beast, and this Detroit squad looks focused, resilient, and built for low-scoring October showdowns. The Tigers bullpen came up clutch in extra innings on Saturday, and Kerry Carpenter’s two-run bomb combined with Zach McKinstry’s walk-off single gave Detroit the edge.
If Detroit can scrap across a few early runs again and allow Skubal to set the tone, they could head back to Comerica with a commanding 2-0 series lead.
Seattle Mariners Betting Preview
Seattle had their chances in Game 1, but beyond Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez, the bats went completely cold — hitless, in fact. Rodriguez was electric, going 3-for-5 with a solo homer and both Mariners RBIs, but it wasn’t enough as the rest of the offense went 0-for-28.
Veteran righty Luis Castillo (11-8, 3.54 ERA) gets the Game 2 assignment, and the good news for Seattle bettors? Castillo outdueled Skubal twice in the regular season, including a 12-3 blowout in July. Over his final four starts this year, Castillo was lights out: 3-0, 1.07 ERA, and 24 strikeouts to just 2 walks in 25 1/3 innings.
Seattle’s formula is simple — get traffic on the bases and convert. Manager Dan Wilson praised the grind-it-out approach, but without production from the bottom of the lineup, the A.L. West champs are in trouble.
Seattle needs a clean start from Castillo, timely contact hitting, and improved bullpen execution to avoid falling into an 0-2 hole before heading to Detroit.
Final Prediction & Betting Angle
Detroit’s got the edge in the series, the edge on the mound, and the confidence after a gutsy extra-innings win. While Skubal hasn’t dominated Seattle in past meetings, the Tigers’ bullpen depth and late-game execution tilt the scales.
Skubal settles in by the middle innings, and Detroit’s timely hitting once again makes the difference. With Castillo on the mound, the Under 5.5 is firmly in play. Grab the juice on the Tigers RL -1.5 (+135) to take Game 2 and tighten their grip on this series.
Score Prediction: Tigers 4, Mariners 2
Pick: Detroit -1.5 (+135)
Total: Under 5.5 (+100)
- MLB Playoff Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
