The 2025 American League Division Series (ALDS) kicked off with all the drama and anticipation baseball fans could hope for, as four storied franchises began their quest for a coveted spot in this year’s World Series. The New York Yankees, fresh off a hard-fought Wild Card win over the Boston Red Sox, squared off against the Toronto Blue Jays, while the Detroit Tigers—having dispatched the Cleveland Guardians—traveled to Seattle to take on the Mariners. With both best-of-five series running from October 4 to October 10, and every game broadcast on Fox or FS1, the stage was set for a week of high-stakes, edge-of-your-seat baseball.
As the lights went up on Game 1 this past Saturday, all eyes were on the Tigers’ lineup card. In a move that surprised some but delighted many, manager AJ Hinch penciled Colt Keith into the designated hitter spot. Keith, who hadn’t played since straining a rib muscle back on September 18, was cleared after a strong workout the day before. "We put him through a workout yesterday," Hinch explained. "He hit live off a couple pitchers, and once he was deemed healthy, it was a pretty easy decision. We wanted his bat in the lineup."
Keith’s return was more than just a feel-good story—it was a tactical decision. The Mariners, unlike the lefty-heavy bullpens of Cleveland and Boston, brought only two left-handed relievers into the ALDS. Keith, who entered the series 4-for-8 with a double and a walk against Seattle’s Game 1 starter George Kirby, had been swinging a hot bat prior to his injury, going 7-for-20 with a double, a homer, and three RBIs. Hinch, ever the strategist, added, "We will be somewhat conservative with the defense, just given all the different plays and angles and stress we can put on him. But he demonstrated that he can put together a competitive at-bat, good swings. He swung and made contact. He had a couple checked swings. He swung and missed. All the things that give us a lot of confidence that he can give us as many at-bats as possible."
Keith’s presence as DH also allowed Kerry Carpenter to shift into right field, while switch-hitting Wenceel Perez became a potent bench option. "I feel like Colt strengthens our lineup against the starter," Hinch noted. "And Wenceel certainly strengthens our bench as almost two players in one for later in the game." While Keith’s defensive appearances will be monitored as the series progresses, his bat could be a game-changer in these tight playoff contests.
Roster moves continued as the Tigers activated right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee, who replaced veteran Paul Sewald. Hanifee, who spent the last three weeks of the season at Triple-A Toledo, brings a unique skill set to the bullpen. "He was an unlucky part of some decisions over the course of September. At the end of the month, we played Cleveland every day, pretty much. Plus, going to Boston. We made a decision to change the configuration of our pen and he was the odd man out," Hinch explained. Hanifee’s ability to stymie right-handed hitters (.220 opponent average, .298 slug, .549 OPS) could prove vital against Seattle’s righty-heavy lineup, which features the likes of Randy Arozarena, Julio Rodriguez, Eugenio Suarez, Mitch Garver, and Victor Robles. With a ground ball rate north of 55%, Hanifee is well-equipped to keep Seattle’s power in check. "He has pitched very well for us," Hinch continued. "He's tough on righties. He can manage his way through a pocket of hitters and get a lefty out, as well. It's been about getting him back on the roster in the right configuration of the opponent. He strengthens the right side of our bullpen and keeps the ball on the ground, and he's been a big part of our pen even though it doesn't look like it in the game logs the last couple of weeks."
To make space for Keith, the Tigers removed Justyn-Henry Malloy from the postseason roster—a tough break for the young right-hander, but a testament to the priorities of playoff baseball. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ Game 2 starter, Tarik Skubal, offered a glimpse into the less glamorous side of postseason life: endless travel and laundry woes. "I've already worn all the underwear once," Skubal joked, referencing the logistical challenges of a playoff run that’s taken the Tigers from Cleveland to Boston and back, and now to Seattle. "I had to take those in and have the clubbies do some stuff. I'm wearing the same shirt I wore in Cleveland already because I had to run it through and get it washed. That's fun, though. Socks. Ran out of socks too." But for all the inconveniences, Skubal and his teammates wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. As Hinch put it, "But this is the playoffs and this is where you want to be. If you have to be on the road for 30 more days to win the World Series, you take it."
On the Seattle side, the Mariners made their own tough roster call, leaving right-hander Bryan Woo off the ALDS roster due to a lingering pectoral muscle injury. Mariners manager Dan Wilson acknowledged, "Obviously a tough decision and one that we weighed very carefully. But we just felt like he had made strides as we had hoped and got to a place, but it just looked like it wasn't going to be able to be in this series." With Woo sidelined, the Mariners have yet to announce their Game 3 starter, though Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller are the likely candidates.
Adding another layer of unpredictability, Mariners’ first baseman Josh Naylor was on high alert during the series—his wife was expecting a baby back in Arizona and could go into labor at any moment. Such are the curveballs the postseason can throw, both on and off the field!
Injury updates continued to shape the Tigers’ plans as well. Matt Vierling, sidelined with an oblique injury, is traveling with the team and working out in hopes of being available should Detroit advance to the ALCS. Hinch described Vierling’s progress as "tremendous," though he’s still not fully symptom-free. The Tigers’ depth could be tested as the postseason grinds on.
For fans eager to catch every pitch, the ALDS is being broadcast live on Fox and FS1, with streaming options available through DirecTV, Fubo TV, and FOX One. Both series—the Yankees vs. Blue Jays and Tigers vs. Mariners—feature a packed schedule, with potential for games to run all the way through October 10 if the battles go the distance. With the National League field also set, including the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs, the road to the World Series promises fireworks at every turn.
As the ALDS unfolds, the tension is palpable and the stakes couldn’t be higher. With roster shuffles, injury comebacks, and personal milestones all in play, the only certainty is that October baseball will keep fans guessing—and cheering—until the final out is recorded.
