The 2023 All-Star will be on the hill with the Mariners season on the line
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners' season will come down to Game 5 of an American League Divisional Series.
The Mariners will play against the Detroit Tigers at 5:08 p.m. PT on Friday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. If the M's win, they'll advance to their first American League Championship Series since 2001 and will play the Toronto Blue Jays. If the Mariners lose, the most successful season they've had in over two decades will come to an end.
Seattle knew, following a 9-3 loss against Detroit on Wednesday, that defending American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal would take the mound for the Tigers on Friday. The Mariners waited until the off-day Thursday to announce their Game 5 starter.
Seattle manager Dan Wilson announced right-handed starter George Kirby, who started for the team in Game 1 of the ALDS (also at T-Mobile Park) would take the mound for Game 5.
"(George) certainly threw well the first game of the series," Wilson said in a news conference Thursday. "Comes back on a good rest and we're ready for tomorrow and excited George has the ball. Again, threw well against them last time and would expect the same type of outing from George tomorrow."
In the first game of the ALDS, Kirby struck out eight batters, walked one and allowed two earned runs on six hits (one home run) in five innings pitched. Detroit won 3-2 in 11 innings.
"I know it will all be the same tomorrow," Kirby said in a news conference Thursday. "Nothing changes. ... This time of year, you're all pitching with your best stuff. Everything kind of leads up to this moment. You got all your best stuff, you got out there and attack it. And I think everyone's gonna do that."
Friday will be the fourth postseason appearance of Kirby's career. He has a 1.38 ERA and has fanned 14 batters, walked two, hit two and allowed two earned runs on 12 hits (one home run) in 13 innings pitched.
The first of Kirby's starts was in the Mariners' 18-inning, 1-0 loss to the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS in 2022. It was the first postseason start of his major league career.
"I think it definitely helps to get a little experience under my belt a couple years ago," Kirby said. "Kind of helps with how you deal with all the nerves and all that kind of stuff that goes into the game. I'm really excited, once again, to take the ball. Just gonna go out there and give it my all."
The one appearance Kirby made in the postseason out of the bullpen was also in the 2022 playoffs. That experience, and the extra rest that Game 2 ALDS starter Luis Castillo received, led to a question whether Kirby or Castillo would start and the other could make an appearance as a reliever.
Kirby will be getting the start, but Wilson isn't ruling out Castillo, or anybody, making an appearance out the bullpen in the win-or-go-home contest.
"All hands are on deck tomorrow," Wilson said. "It's a Game 5, obviously. Everything's on the line and everyone that's available will be down there and we can use."
Game 5 of the ALDS will air on FOX.
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