Detroit edging Seattle 3-2 in 11 innings in ALDS Game 1 capped a tense playoff opener. Torkelson drew a leadoff walk in the 11th, a wild pitch moved him to second, and McKinstry delivered the go-ahead single to center, plating Torkelson. Muñoz and Vest stymied the opposition in the early extras, keeping the score knotted until the Detroit breakthrough. McKinstry’s arc from Toledo to All-Star candidate to playoff hero underscores the depth and timing that define postseason baseball.

McKinstry’s journey—from the Dodgers to the Cubs, then Detroit—reads like a blueprint for late-blooming utility players, especially with his 2025 All-Star nod as Peña’s injury replacement and a $1.65 million arbitration-avoiding deal in 2024. The win sets a tight tone for a series that’s already delivering the unpredictability and grind that fantasy managers chase in October.

Detroit's 7-17 September and wild-card win over Cleveland set the stage for a top-heavy clash with Seattle. Five Free Press writers weigh paths for the Tigers via Tarik Skubal and Hinch's tactical edge, while Seattle's depth—rotation, bullpen, and Cal Raleigh–Julio Rodríguez bats—defines the series outlook.

Detroit must steal early games and exploit bullpen chaos; Seattle counters with power and balance, making the ALDS a tight, potentially five-game test. The Tigers' resilience and crowd energy keep things interesting, but Seattle's overall strength carries the favorite tag.

Kiké Hernández carried a three-hit day for the Dodgers, delivering the go-ahead two-run double in the ninth to lift Los Angeles past Seattle 5-3. Dalton Rushing tacked on a two-run homer earlier, and the Dodgers pieced it together with a deep bullpen performance to close out the win. Glancing at the box, the late surge came via a Conforto single and a wild pitch that cleared the way for a pivotal scoring frame. The day also highlighted the Mariners’ 30-30 milestone contender, Julio Rodríguez, and kept the Dodgers in prime form for the postseason chase.

Glasnow worked three innings in his final regular-season start, while Gilbert kept the Dodgers at bay through four; the fifth inning saw Dalton Rushing connect for a two-out, two-run shot to break the score. Seattle briefly retook the lead with Polanco’s three-run blast, but a late Dodgers rally—fueled by Conforto, Hernández, and a controlled bullpen—reasserted control. Henríquez locked it down in the ninth, completing a nine-strikeout finish for the relief staff, a nod to a 1920s-era bullpen flourish.

Up next, the Dodgers close out the regular season with Kershaw on the hill against Bryce Miller, as Seattle turns the page toward the postseason. The win underscores Los Angeles’ late-season resilience and the depth of its bullpen, while Seattle’s star duo, Rodríguez and Polanco, left their imprint but couldn’t seal the game in the final frames.

Kiké Hernández delivered a clutch ninth-inning two-run double that flipped the script, lifting the Dodgers to a 5-3 win over Seattle as LA piled up 15 strikeouts and closed with a clean ninth. Dalton Rushing extended the lead with a fifth-inning homer, while Seattle’s Jorge Polanco answered back with a three-run shot. Edgardo Henríquez notched the save as LA stretched its win streak to five and kept a tight hold on head-to-head momentum over the Mariners.