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 takes a 1-0 lead in the ALDS as Tarik Skubal faces Luis Castillo in Game 2, with bullpen depth a quiet edge for the Tigers. The betting focus centers on two Mariners bats—Julio Rodríguez and Cal Raleigh—while a small Tigers parlay leans on Skubal’s upside against Seattle’s right-handed late-season rhythm. The setup favors value on Rodríguez and Raleigh’s hit props and a Seattle +1.5 runline in a series that could hinge on bullpen late-inning leverage.

Detroit outlasted Seattle 3-2 in 11 innings to seize Game 1 of the ALDS, with Zach McKinstry delivering the tiebreaker on the first pitch he saw from Carlos Vargas after Spencer Torkelson moved him to scoring position with a walk.

Kerry Carpenter’s fifth-inning two-run shot gave the Tigers the lead, capped by Tarik Skubal’s strong start on the mound. Julio Rodríguez homered for Seattle, Cal Raleigh chipped in three singles, but Detroit bullpen arms closed it out as Will Vest and Keider Montero finished it in relief. Game 2 features Luis Castillo against Skubal.

Postseason extra innings add-no-runner rules didn’t apply here, and Seattle’s closer Andrés Muñoz bridged two scoreless frames before the Tigers pulled it out. Detroit’s resurgence continues as they try to push the series to Seattle.

Detroit seized home-field in the ALDS with a 3-2 win over Seattle, riding late-inning heroics from Will Vest, Zach McKinstry and Keider Montero after rookie Troy Melton silenced the Mariners. Tarik Skubal awaits for Game 2, giving Detroit a real shot to push Seattle on the road.

Detroit hands rookie Troy Melton the ball for Game 1 of the ALDS against Seattle, opting for a young arm over a rest-weary veteran plan. Melton debuted in July, logged 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, and showed a 96.8 mph four-seam fastball with a heavy fastball usage that ranks high among the Tigers’ staff. His only playoff inning previously ended with four runs, but Detroit plans to ride him with support from a bullpen capable of covering early sections and a lineup that has built flexibility around him.

Melton’s path from fourth-round pick in 2022 to major-league starter in 2024 underscores Detroit’s risk-tavorable scouting, and his mix of power velo with slider and cutter gives him swing-and-miss upside even in a short outing. The Tigers will lean on his heater while monitoring leash length in Seattle’s ballpark, aiming to minimize exposure to the lineup that will clash with him in a do-or-die environment. Fantasy-wise, Melton is a contrarian dart with upside but limited inning expectation in a Game 1 environment.