George Kirby will get the ball for the Seattle Mariners in the decisive Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Friday.
The right-hander will be matched up against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Seattle manager Dan Wilson opted for Kirby over Luis Castillo, who could work on four days’ rest. He might be an option out of the bullpen should Kirby falter.
Kirby got a no-decision in Game 1 vs. the Tigers on Saturday after throwing five innings of two-run ball. He allowed six hits and one walk while striking out eight, with the big blow being a two-run homer by Kerry Carpenter in the fifth.
Kirby owns an impressive postseason resume: no decisions, one save and a 1.38 ERA in three outings (two starts). He saved Game 2 of the 2022 AL wild-card series against the Toronto Blue Jays as the Mariners completed a sweep. Kirby then fired seven shutout innings against the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the ALDS that year, a contest Houston won 1-0 in 18 innings.
In the 2025 regular season, Kirby went 10-8 with a 4.21 ERA. He got a victory in Detroit on July 12 after firing five innings of four-run ball, giving him a career 2-4 mark with a 7.48 ERA in six starts vs. the Tigers.
