Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.

The Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners meet for Game 1 of their best-of-5 American League Division Series Saturday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 8:38 p.m. ET (FS1). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's MLB odds around the Tigers vs. Mariners odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.

Regular-season series: Mariners won 4-2

The Tigers won 2 of 3 games in the regular-season series March 31-April 2, with the Under going 2-1. However, the Mariners returned the favor with a 3-game sweep at Comerica Park July 11-13, outscoring the Tigers 35-14, with the Over going 3-0.

Detroit won their AL Wild Card Series against Cleveland in 3 games, including a 6-3 win Thursday as a slight underdog (+110) as the Over (7) cashed.

The Tigers collected 10 hits in Game 3, led by OF Riley Greene, who went 2-for-5 with an RBI. OF Parker Meadows had the other multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, while Ohio native C Dillon Dingler sunk his favorite boyhood team with a solo homer, the first postseason HR of his MLB career.

The Mariners clinched the AL West by 3 games over the Houston Astros, securing the No. 2 seed in the AL. Seattle was 51-30 at home, posting a plus-72 run differential. The M's haven't played since Sept. 28, a 6-1 loss to the LA Dodgers.

Home Run Derby champ Cal Raleigh swatted 60 homers for the Mariners and drove in 125 runs. He went just 4-for-23 (.174) against the Tigers this season, but he hit 3 homers with 8 RBIs, 5 walks and 8 strikeouts.

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Tigers at Mariners projected starters

RHP Troy Melton vs. RHP George Kirby

Melton (3-2, 2.76 ERA) made 5 regular-season starts (16 appearances). He posted a 1.01 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9 and 7.1 K/9 in 45 2/3 innings.

  • Last start (Sept. 25): No-decision, 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 1 K in 4-2 road win in Cleveland
  • Last appearance (Game 2 vs. Cleveland): 1/3 IP, 4 ER, 3 H (1 HR), 1 BB, 0 K in 6-1 loss Wednesday
  • 2025/career road stats: 1-1, 3.47 ERA (23 1/3 IP, 9 ER), 0.99 WHIP, 4 HR, 5 BB, 21 K in 3 starts (7 appearances)
  • Has never faced Mariners

Kirby (10-8, 4.21 ERA) made 23 regular-season starts. He posted a 1.19 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 in 126 innings.

  • Last start (Sept. 26): Loss, 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H (1 HR), 1 BB, 10 K in 3-2 home setback vs. LA Dodgers
  • Last 7 starts: 2-2, 4.21 ERA (36 1/3 IP, 17 ER), 1.21 WHIP, 10.7 K/9
  • 2025 home stats: 5-4, 3.38 ERA (66 2/3 IP, 25 ER), 1.11 WHIP, 9.9 K/9 in 12 starts
  • Career vs. Tigers: 2-4, 7.48 ERA (27 2/3 IP, 23 ER), 1.81 WHIP, 9 HR, 10.4 K/9 in 6 starts

Tigers at Mariners odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:03 a.m. ET.

  • Moneyline (ML): Tigers +160 (bet $100 to win $160) | Mariners -190 (bet $190 to win $100)
  • Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Tigers +1.5 (-135) | Mariners -1.5 (+115)
  • Over/Under (O/U): 7 (O: -105 | U: -115)

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Tigers at Mariners picks and predictions

Prediction

Mariners 6, Tigers 2

Moneyline

The Mariners (-190) will cost you almost twice your potential return, which is too much risk for not enough reward. In addition, Seattle comes with a bit of risk, as it hasn’t played in a while. While that layoff is good for resting bumps and bruises, rust can sometimes set in, too.

Still, the Tigers have to go with a bullpen game in the series opener, and Melton was just hammered in his lone appearance in the Wild Card series.

PASS.

Run line/Against the spread

The MARINERS -1.5 (+115) are a better play at plus money on the run line.

Seattle, along with other teams not playing in the Wild Card series, held scrimmages to stay fresh and face live batting during the break between the regular-season finale and the Division Series.

Behind Kirby, an established starter, against Melton, an opener, the advantage should go to the M's.

Over/Under

OVER 7 (-105) is the lean, but go with a half-unit play at best.

The Mariners will look to jump all over Melton, who surrendered 4 runs while recording just 1 out in Game 2 at Cleveland in a relief appearance.

And, remember, the last time these teams played in Detroit in a 3-game set, the teams averaged 16.3 combined runs per outing.

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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Detroit Tigers at Seattle Mariners odds, picks and predictions

Reporting by Daniel Dobish, Sportsbook Wire / Sportsbook Wire

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