Mariners star slugger's status totally up in the air for Game 4 and beyond vs. Tigers

Despite the Seattle Mariners' offense being one of the lighter-hitting groups among the remaining postseason teams, their lineup is worryingly deep. Their Nos. 1-6 hitters — Randy Arozarena, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Jorge Polanco, Josh Naylor, and Eugenio Súarez — form a more comprehensive on-base and power threat than any combination of Tigers' batters.

The Tigers have already gotten a roundabout gift from the Mariners (albeit not regarding their offense), with ace Bryan Woo sitting through the ALDS with pectoral tightness. They might get another, this time impacting Seattle's lineup, in a potentially decisive ALDS Game 4.

Josh Naylor is in the Mariners' starting lineup for Tuesday's Game 3, but he's on baby watch until further notice and didn't initially travel to Detroit with the rest of his team.

Naylor has been quiet through this series so far, going 0-for-8 in his first two games, but it would certainly make it easier on the Tigers' pitching staff if they didn't have to face a guy who hit nearly .300 with an .815 OPS in the regular season, and has decent career numbers at Comerica Park as a former member of the Guardians.

Tigers fans could breathe a tentative sigh of relief as Josh Naylor's status for ALDS Game 4 and beyond is questionable

The Mariner the Tigers really need to figure out is Rodríguez, who was by far Seattle's most productive hitter in Games 1 and 2. He went 4-for-9 off of Tigers pitching with a home run, a double, and three RBI. Polanco also managed to give Tarik Skubal grief with two solo shots off of him in Game 2.

Seattle's Game 3 starter, Logan Gilbert, did see the Tigers once this season, and they managed three runs off of him in five innings, while Casey Mize and Detroit's bullpen kept the Mariners to one run.

Naylor feels due for a big moment, as terrifying as that is. He has three postseason appearances under his belt and hasn't really been great since his first in 2020, but he also hit .458 with a 1.208 OPS in the last seven games of the regular season, so there's a reason to be concerned.

Hopefully, that big moment won't come in Game 3, and he'll have to sit out Game 4 and a potential Game 5. The Tigers' pitching staff will still have five other huge offensive threats to deal with, but five is better than six.