Why the Tigers' miracle playoff run gives Mariners hope for 2025

The Detroit Tigers had a miraculous late-season surge that led to a surprise playoff push that took them to Game 5 of the American League Division Series. They ultimately fell short of making it to the ALCS, but they did take down the Seattle Mariners' rival Houston Astros in a two-game sweep in the Wild Card round.

The Mariners certainly would have liked to be able to have the playoff run the Tigers did, but Detroit's lackluster lineup gives Seattle hope for next year.

The Mariners had a very disappointing season offensively, but the Tigers actually had a similar campaign on that front. The Mariners put up a .224/.311/.376 slash line on the season and the Tigers went .234/.300/.385. The Tigers had a better batting average, but the Mariners got on base more. The Mariners .687 OPS was nearly identical to the Tigers .685 OPS, but the Mariners had a 103 OPS+ against the Tigers' 94 OPS+.

Many fans thought the Mariners had the worst offense in baseball for the majority of the season, but the Tigers playoff lineup did not have any star players, multiple All-Star-caliber players, or even a group of guys the M's would prefer over theirs. Some of their players would be great to have in Seattle no doubt, but on the whole it is not a better lineup than Mariners President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto should be able to build this winter.

The Mariners have a great start to building a better lineup than the Tigers with Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, and Victor Robles coming back next season. Dipoto knows that the Mariners lineup was something that held them back and he will go out and make additions to help this team make the playoffs.

Obviously there is more to a baseball team than its lineup, but the Tigers were one game from the ALCS with only one playoff-caliber starting pitcher. The Tigers rode likely Cy Young award winner Tarik Skubal as far as he would take them in the playoffs, as he was the only true starter the Tigers used in the playoffs.

In the ALDS, the Tigers used Reese Olson as an innings-eater, but used an opener ahead of him in Game 1 where he went five innings before getting the start in Game 4 (but he only went four innings in that one).

The Mariners did not have a starter who had as great of a season as Skubal, but any of the Mariners five starting pitchers have the ability to go toe-to-toe with the Tigers lefty, and they showed that throughout the season. The Mariners also would be able to have a true playoff rotation, perhaps better than any other team in the league. Look at this year's World Series matchup: the Yankees have the "edge" over the Dodgers with Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt and Luis Gil. That's a good staff, but the Mariners' was better in 2024. Seattle had the best ERA (3.38) and WHIP (1.03) in the sport. Imagine if opposing lineups had to face them in October? It's a massive advantage.

Overall, it's disappointing the Mariners fell short of making the playoffs in 2024, but when you compare them to other playoff teams, they're really not far off. The Mariners should be hopeful for 2025 because they have young players on the way like Cole Young and Ryan Bliss in addition to the chance to acquire players via free agency or trade this winter that will upgrade their current group.