Tigers fans can't forget they have the ultimate edge over Mariners in ALDS

The Tigers at least managed not to go out with a whimper against the Mariners in ALDS Game 3, when they came together for a three-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. But they still handed Seattle an advantage in the series and the opportunity to clinch an ALCS berth in front of their foe's fans.

Game 3 was embarrassment for the Tigers for a lot of reasons. Although leaving runners on base has been an issue for them throughout the postseason, on Tuesday night they could barely get a runner on in the first place through eight innings. They lost all of their fire after going down 5-1 by the end of the sixth.

The silver lining here, though, is clear. If the Tigers can win on Wednesday to force a Game 5 in Seattle, they'll get Tarik Skubal on the mound again and a second shot at providing him run support. Maybe more importantly, they won't be facing down the Mariners' ace.

Bryan Woo was left off of the ALDS roster with pectoral inflammation. If they'd had to see him in Game 1, they might've gotten swept at Comerica. Instead they got George Kirby, who Kerry Carpenter managed to hit a game-changing two-run homer off of, and they're likely to see him again in a potential Game 5.

Bryan Woo being left off of Mariners' roster will be a gift to Tigers if they can force an ALDS Game 5

Woo, who got his first and very well-deserved All-Star nod this season, ended the year with a 2.94 ERA over 186 2/3 innings, and he'll almost certainly get Cy Young votes behind Skubal and the Red Sox's Garrett Crochet. He's been almost equally as good against righties and lefties and has a very similar walk-to-strikeout ratio to Skubal.

With the Tigers as light-hitting as they've been, there's a great chance they would've come back to Comerica with a 2-0 deficit in the series if Woo was healthy.

Kirby still handled the Tigers decently well, and the Carpenter homer was sort of the result of some questionable managing from Dan Wilson, who kept his starter in the game despite signs of fatigue. But Detroit has a far better chance of getting out of this series win a win against him than Woo.

They just have to make Game 4 count. Tigers fans left Comerica (most of them very early) disappointed on Tuesday night. Let's hope the team gives them something more to cheer about on Wednesday, when it really matters most.