The fourth-year pitcher will get the nod in the first game of the American League Divisional Series between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers
SEATTLE — On Friday, Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson announced fourth-year starting pitcher George Kirby would get the nod for Game 1 of the American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers at 5:38 p.m. PT on Saturday at T-Mobile Park.
Luis Castillo will start in Game 2 of the ALDS Sunday.
"Both of these guys have stacked up pretty well against Detroit this year, as have our other guys," Wilson said in a news conference Friday. "We've looked at a lot of different things and we're excited it's gonna be George and (Castillo)."
Kirby missed the first two months of the season with right shoulder inflammation and was trying to capture the recapture his consistency for a large portion of the year.
Kirby hit his stride in the final month of the season.
In his last three starts, Kirby struck out 31 total hitters, issued a walk, hit a batter and allowed four earned runs on 11 hits (three home runs). His matched his career-high and fanned 14 in his 6.1-inning quality start against the Los Angeles Angels on Sept. 14.
"His last month has been great," Raleigh said in a news conference Friday. "Really been hitting his stride really well. We all know it's been there. It's just fighting those injuries, trying to get into that consistent routine and just getting back into that mentality. ... We've seen him do it before in playoff games, both out of the (bullpen) and starting, he's done it before and I have a lot of confidence in him going tomorrow."
Kirby was a rookie on the Mariners the last time the franchise made the postseason in 2022. He made two outings (one start) and fanned six, walked one, hit two and allowed six hits in eight innings. His start was a seven-inning scoreless outing in Seattle's 18-inning loss to the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS on Oct. 15, 2022.
"For one, I was super honored. Big game," Kirby said in a news conference Friday. "(It's) something you always dream of — being able to start Game 1 or any game in the playoffs, for that matter. I'm super excited and ready to take the ball tomorrow and go out there and give it my all."
If the best-of-five series goes to Game 5, Kirby could possibly get two starts at home. There's a chance 2025 All-Star starter Bryan Woo could miss the ALDS, which would play a role into whether Kirby would have two starts.
"We've talked about it being somewhat of a luxury that you can run anybody out there that's gonna give you an incredible outing," Wilson said. "We've done it all season long and these guys have delivered."
Kirby has posted a 4.21 ERA this year with 137 strikeouts in 126 innings across 23 starts.
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