A.J. Hinch, who's team fell to the Mariners in the 2025 American League Divisional Series, had positive words about the team's pitching staff and lineup
The Seattle Mariners have a brief reprieve from their postseason push on Tuesday, but they'll return home for Games 3, 4 and (if-necessary) 5 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Mariners lead the Toronto Blue Jays 2-0 in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. Two wins in the crop of games in the Pacific Northwest will send Seattle to the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
The Mariners made it to the ALCS after beating the Detroit Tigers in five games in an American League Divisional Series, capped off with a 15-inning, 3-2 win in Game 5 on Friday.
The Tigers manager, A.J. Hinch, recently went on MLB Radio and had praise for Seattle from the lineup to the pitching staff.
"When you look at their lineup — you have to look at their lineup a lot different than you used to," Hinch said. "They had a hard time scoring runs at times. But when you roll around the lineup, they have a couple switch-hitters, which is hard to matchup with. (Randy Arozarena) hasn't really gotten started yet, he's an impact guy. (Julio Rodriguez) obviously burned us in our series. ... (Jorge Polanco) has been instrumental in their success. I'm rattling off five, six, seven names in their order, which is a different style of Mariners team than what's been there in previous seasons and the teams that have fallen short in their quest to get to the World Series."
Hinch also reflected on the series between Detroit and the Mariners, and specifically highlighted the team's handling of the bullpen and the depth of the starting rotation as a strength.
"That was what was really hard," Hinch said. "They just had an answer from the pitching side no matter where you were in the lineup. It felt like, 'Man can they use Brash again?' Yep. 'Can they get to Munoz for two inning?' Yep. They just kept coming at you.
"Their rotation — I like when they call Bryce Miller a fifth starter. I know his numbers weren't great this year, but come on dude. That's your fifth starter? It's Bryce Miller pumping 96-97 (mph) with a good split and a good slider."
Seattle will have a chance to win its first-ever pennant in the Pacific Northwest.
The Mariners will have an off-day Tuesday and will play Toronto in Game 3 of the ALCS at 5:03 p.m. PT on Wednesday.
"One thing I see (in the ALCS), is Game 2 was super important for the Mariners to win," Hinch said. "They have a 2-0 lead on the race to four wins. But they got to rest (Andres Munoz), they got to rest (Matt Brash). They got to rest their big boys on the back end where they could go three in a row now to maybe even close the series out, if they can get a couple wins."
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