Dan Wilson and the Mariners will hope familiar with Detroit Tigers starter Tarik Skubal and Castillo's consistency will help the team even the series
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners' playoff future could come down to Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series on Sunday.
The Detroit Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five ALDS after an 11-inning, 3-2 win on Saturday.
If the Mariners win Sunday, the series will be even 1-1. Games 3 and 4 take place in Detroit. If Seattle loses, the ALDS will head to Detroit and the Tigers will need just one win to eliminate the Mariners.
Seattle will have Luis Castillo on the mound for Game 2 and Detroit will start defending American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Despite the pedigree of Skubal, who could very well be on his way to a second-straight Cy Young award, The Mariners have had success against him this season.
In two starts against the former Seattle University hurler, Seattle is 2-0. Both times the Mariners beat Skubal, Castillo was on the hill.
"(Castillo) has pitched consistently well all season long," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a pregame news conference Sunday. "He's been in circumstances like this before and knows what's at stake. He's pitched well against Detroit. First time out, going seven innings strong. Second time, five innings — our offense able to open it up later, both times against Skubal. He's up to the task, no question about it."
Both of Seattle's starts against Skubal this season marked pivot points in the team's fortunes. Before the first matchup April 2, the M's lost the first two of a three-game series against the Tigers. The Mariners won 3-2 against Skubal to avoid the sweep.
The second Skubal start was the first of another three-game series July 11 in Detroit. It was Seattle's first game after getting swept by the New York Yankees. The Mariners won 12-3.
In Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, the Tigers opted for a bullpen day. Seattle had several hard-hit fly balls that ultimately died at the warning track, but the constant shuffling of hurlers kept the Mariners' offense limited to six hits — evenly split between catcher Cal Raleigh and center fielder Julio Rodriguez.
"Having familiarity with a guy certainly does help," Wilson said. "Even if it's Skubal. Often times with bullpen games, you're seeing lots of different guys and having to make lots of different adjustments during the course of the game. With a guy like Skubal — definitely have to make your adjustments, but it's not adjusting to a different guy. I think in some ways, the familiarity will help."
First pitch in Game 2 of the ALDS is scheduled for 5:03 p.m. PT at T-Mobile Park.
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