Breaking down the matchup that could decide Tigers-Mariners ALDS Game 5

Going into Game 4 of the ALDS, the feeling was that if the Detroit Tigers could somehow luck into a win, not even Game 5 Tarik Skubal could save their season unless the offense woke up in a big way. But then they did, outscoring the Seattle Mariners 9-3 in Game 4, and the hope crept back in.

The narrative around Skubal versus the Mariners took shape as soon as Jorge Polanco hit his second homer of the night off of him in Game 2. Skubal still went seven innings and those were the only runs he allowed, but the Tigers still lost. He failed to pick up a win against them in two regular season starts, too.

The Tigers need their offense to provide run support, and Skubal just needs to keep...being himself. There's now pressure on Skubal to be as perfect as he's ever been. Through what are likely to be three meetings between Skubal and Polanco in Game 5, fans are going to be holding their breaths.

Tarik Skubal vs. Jorge Polanco will be the at-bats to watch during Tigers-Mariners ALDS showdown

Polanco, a longtime Minnesota Twin, has seen Skubal more than any other Mariner. He's gone 7-for-26 against him in the regular season with a solo homer, and now he has two more in the postseason.

Skubal was curiously staying away from his changeup during Game 2, so Polanco grabbed a hanging slider and then a hanging splitter (Skubal's weakest pitch by far this season) and took advantage of those instead. The one regular season home run he has on Skubal (albeit back in 2021, when Skubal was still working up to becoming the pitcher he is now) was also on the slider.

Breaking balls just might not be the answer when it comes to Polanco. Skubal has made it very clear that he's still capable of throwing high-octane fastballs deep into his pitch counts, so maybe he just needs to save a little extra juice for Polanco and blow a few by him.

No matter what, both of these teams should be expected to play their hearts out on Friday night. Skubal might've only misstepped a few times in Game 2, but now the margin for error is zero.