The Tigers were eliminated in Game 5 after pulling ace Skubal, leading to a 15-inning loss to the Mariners.

In Game 5 of the ALDS, the Detroit Tigers were eliminated by the Seattle Mariners in a 15-inning thriller after manager AJ Hinch pulled ace Tarik Skubal following a dominant six-inning, 13-strikeout performance. Despite Skubal’s 99-pitch outing and a record-tying seven consecutive strikeouts, the bullpen faltered, and the Mariners scored in the 15th inning on a walk-off bases-loaded single by Jorge Polanco. The decision to remove Skubal, cited as necessary due to his physical and emotional exhaustion, drew widespread fan criticism, especially given his low pitch counts earlier in the season and elite durability. The loss ends Detroit’s season and raises questions about postseason strategy and the future of Skubal, who is set to become a free agent in 2026.