The Tigers and Mariners play the last game of Day 1 of the LDS round in Seattle at 8:30 PM EDT. Seattle won the season series 4-2. The Mariners try to take the first step toward winning their first AL Pennant.
The following table compares the offenses of the two teams:
| 2025 AL Ranks | Tigers | Mariners |
| Runs per Game | 4.68 (5th) | 4.73 (4th) |
| Batting Average | .247 (7th) | .244 (9th) |
| On-Base Average | .316 (6th) | .320 (4th) |
| Slugging Percentage | .413 (6th) | .420 (5th) |
| Home Runs | 198 (5th) | 238 (2nd) |
| Stolen Base Percentage | 79.2 (5th) | 81.3 (1st) |
| BABIP | .298 (4th) | .287 (8th) |
The two teams finished separated by just 0.05 runs per game. My first glance through the stats made me think that there should be a bigger gap, due to the Mariners high home run total. The difference between the home run totals is not really reflected in the difference in Slugging Percentage. In looking at the other base hits, the Tigers led the AL in triples with 36, twelve more than the second place Red Sox and 27 more than the Mariners, who finished last in the AL in that category. We’ll see if triples make a difference in the ALDS.
The following table compares pitching and defense between the two teams.
| 2025 AL Ranks | Tigers | Mariners |
| Runs Allowed per Game | 4.27 (8th) | 4.28 (9th) |
| Earned Run Average | 3.91 (9th) | 3.87 (6th) |
| Strikeouts per 9 IP | 8.6 (7th) | 8.8 (5th) |
| Walks per 9 IP | 3.0 (4th) | 2.8 (1st) |
| Home Runs per 200 IP | 26.0 (6th) | 26.3 (7th) |
| Defensive Efficiency | .702 (7th) | .703 (6th) |
This strikes me as about as two teams can be. The Tigers are ever so slightly better in runs allowed per game, but the Mariners are slightly better in three-true outcomes. Even defensive efficiency is almost the same.
How to choose between two very evenly matched teams? Home field and batter home runs in my mind give the Mariners a slight advantage over the Tigers. I give the Mariners a 51% chance of advancing to the ALCS, but you might as well flip a coin.