Heading into the weekend, here are three things we’ll be watching for in baseball:
1. ALDS Conclusion:
The ALDS ends tonight as the Tigers and Mariners return to Seattle for a decisive Game 5. The game is scheduled for 5:08 pm local time, and the Tigers will deliver the Ace Tarik Skubal (2.21 ERA) to right mound George Kirby (4.21 ERA). Skubal is the defending American League Young Award winner and could win the award again this season. This outstanding performance has continued into the postseason. So far, he has a 1.84 ERA and a jaw-dropping strikeout rate of 41.8% in two starts so far.
While Skubal is elite, he’s not completely invincible. The Mariners themselves picked up the win in Game 2 of the ALDS, with Skubal pitching seven innings of two-run ball on a slide out of the Tigers bullpen. Meanwhile, Kirby allowed two runs in five innings and struck out eight against the Detroit Pistons in Game 1 of this series. The winner of tonight’s game will face the Blue Jays in the American League Series starting Sunday. Toronto will have home field advantage more than any team in this series.
2. NLDS ends in Milwaukee:
Although the Brewers held a 2-0 lead in the National League, the Cubs fought back to win two straight elimination games at Wrigley Field to take the series back to Milwaukee. The decisive Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday at 7:08 pm local time. Neither team has announced their starters, although the Cubs will have the lefty Shota Imaga (3.73 ERA) regularly rested, and the Brewers figured to have both Jacob Misiorovsky (4.36 ERA) and Quinn Priest (3.32 ERA) It will certainly be an all-hands-on-deck game for both teams. The series winner will head to the NLCS where they will face the Dodgers in Game 1 on Monday. If the Brewers advance, they will maintain home field advantage in the NLCS, while the Dodgers will defeat the Cubs.
3. Phillies enter the offseason:
Phillies’ season ended last night with heartbreaking walk-off error Orion Kecklingas the season ends, the club’s offseason also begins. It would be surprising to see the Phillies move on from the generally successful partnership between Rob Thomson and Dave Dombrowski, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t real potential for change this winter. Kyle Schwarber, JT Realmutoand rangers suarez All are free agency tickets. Reuniting or replacing these players, especially Schwarber, will be a major offseason storyline in Philadelphia. During Suarez’s free agency, Zach Wheelerof thoracic outlet surgery and Aaron NoraAmid the struggles of 2025, Philadelphia’s rotation also faces some unusual uncertainty this winter. Like most clubs, the Phillies are expected to hold an end-of-season press conference at some point in the next few days, which could provide clues as to their offseason plans.
