We’ve got you covered with pregame lineups and the keys to Game 5 along with takeaways after the final out.
Key to winning Game 5 for Seattle: In 1997, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson went 20-4 with a 2.28 ERA for the Mariners. One team, however, had his number: He started five times against the Orioles, including twice in the ALDS, and the Mariners lost all five games.
Key to winning Game 5 for Detroit: Yes, the most-cited stat related to this series is Seattle’s 3-0 record when facing Skubal this season. That fact can be taken as a source of optimism (We have his number!) or anxiety (No way we beat that guy a fourth time!). But the Mariners have done a solid job of getting into hitter’s counts against Skubal and then doing damage once they do. At the same time, the Tigers haven’t scored in the early innings of any of those games, which has also been a problem during the postseason. Scoring a couple of runs early would be huge for Detroit and for Skubal, as it would allow him to attack the zone and avoid those hitter’s counts. I don’t really think the Mariners have Skubal’s number, but he’s not infallible. He does need his offense, however, to give him at least a sliver of a margin for error. — Bradford Doolittle
Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners (8:08 p.m. ET on Fox)
Which team will come out on top to face the Toronto Blue Jays for the AL pennant?