Seattle edged Detroit in a 15-inning ALDS classic as Jorge Polanco delivered a walk-off single to send the Mariners to the ALCS against Toronto. Tarik Skubal dazzled for Detroit with a postseason-record 13 strikeouts in six innings of one-run ball, but he exited after 99 pitches and the Tigers’ bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. Seattle’s bullpen and timely late offense prevailed in extras, capping a dramatic elimination game for Detroit.

Postseason splitter usage has exploded. Splitters now comprise 6% of pitches (about 17.4 per game), up 81% from the regular season and 138% from last year’s postseason. Toronto has leaned hardest, with 15.9% of its pitches being splitters; the Yankees were crushed by them, going 1-for-27. Detroit rode three splitters to a win, feeding Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez heavy doses. Manny Machado’s splitter homer is the only one surrendered this postseason. Fastballs are down and splitters are rising, with opponents slugging .303 off splitters versus .414 off heaters, and just one homer allowed off a splitter all postseason.

In short, the splitter has evolved from niche to weaponry in October, driven by teams aiming away from hard contact and toward low-zone strikes. Expect bullpen-heavy plans, rising splitter counts, and continued emphasis on manipulating hitters' timing in the biggest games of the year.

Detroit erased a 3-0 deficit to stun Seattle 9-3 in ALDS Game 4, forcing a decisive Game 5 in Seattle. Báez threaded the tying single in the fifth and then crushed a two-run homer in the sixth, while Greene launched a towering go-ahead shot of 450+ feet in that same frame as the offense finally clicked. The surge flipped the series narrative after a sluggish start, and the Tigers bullpen shut the door with Melton riding three scoreless innings on three days’ rest and Vest closing out the ninth.

Spencer Torkelson, Jahmai Jones and Zach McKinstry contributed multi-hit nights, and Gleyber Torres joined the party with a late RBI as Detroit rode a rare offensive outburst. Tarik Skubal is lined up to start Game 5, giving Detroit a proven ace to lean on as they chase the ALCS against Toronto, while Hinch emphasized the collective effort that carried them from the brink of elimination to playoff relevance.