AL DIVISION SERIES: TIGERS VS MARINERS

October 7, 2025

Dan Wilson

Comerica Park

Seattle Mariners

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Mariners - 8, Tigers - 4

Q. Dan, you've talked about all season just how the importance of creating lengthy at-bats and upping the pitch count can lead to good things down the road. 29 pitches against Flaherty in the second inning, I think 26 in the third. What did you see out of your guys especially in those first few innings there?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. We talk about it a lot, just grind-them-out at-bats. And when you look at Josh Naylor and what that at-bat looked like in the second inning, 11 pitches, whatever it was, just grinding out, fouling them off.

That's -- you don't see the immediate result, but you do see it later on down the line, and I think that's what happened tonight. I think some really good at-bats up and down the lineup tonight, using the middle of the field.

Yes, we hit a couple homers, which is great. Geno getting on with a homer. Cal, the opposite way. JP's homer was big to get the run back after we'd given them up but we also scored conventionally -- quote, conventionally -- and getting some guys on base, using the middle of the field. Cal going up the middle to get an RBI, Randy going up the middle, J.P. going the other way. Just a lot of great at-bats.

So that's what it takes, and when these guys do that, that's their more consistent offense.

Q. Dan, Logan was looking pretty strong still through 6, 85 pitches or so. What was kind of the thought process as you weigh whether to send him back out for the seventh?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. I can't say enough about what Logan did tonight. Just an incredible outing. He really had everything going.

You know, you look at his slider tonight, outstanding. His split was outstanding. Some good fastballs. You weigh both sides of it there.

But what we've talked about in our bullpen, it's a solid bullpen. It's so deep, and at that point you felt good about getting through six innings and turning it over to the bullpen, who did it again tonight.

So, you know, I think 85, you know, this time of year, that's a great outing, and what he gave us to get through a tough lineup, you know, you've got to love getting that here, especially this late in the year.

Q. Dan, just you -- a lot of people thought you might go with Logan Game 1. You bring him in for Game 3 on the road, a tough environment. Is that part of the thinking, that he could handle this, given his stuff and his ability to strike guys out? And what did you see that made him so effective?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. It was vintage Logan. He attacked the zone. He got into good counts. And he let the split and the slider do his work for him and kept him in stride.

It was vintage Logan, I thought. And to get that, as you mentioned, on the road in a big game tonight after a long rain delay. You can't discredit that either. Able to come out and throw an outing like that after waiting a couple of hours is another feather in his cap.

So he answered the call tonight, no question about it, and it was what we needed, for sure.

Q. Dan, before the game, A.J. Hinch talked about moving up Carpenter to that one spot potentially, a setup you'd have to make a decision maybe a little earlier. In that fifth inning when he comes up in that key moment, were you thinking about making any changes, or what was your thought process?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, you're always conscious of the matchups, especially this time of year, especially early in the game. You can't ignore it. And you're always thinking, and the way Logan was throwing the ball and continued to throw the ball -- you know, again, we talked about the split being somewhat of a neutralizer for him, and I thought tonight it was excellent.

Q. Dan, you brought Brash in to face a different pocket of hitters than he's faced. Was that maybe part of the calculus, was trying to not let guys get consistent looks at him? We didn't see Speier today. Maybe trying to kind of limit guys' exposure?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I think, again, you look to set up guys for success and to find the best spot for him. With the game where it was at that point, felt like a really good spot for Brash to throw, and Matty came in and did a really nice job and attacked the zone again. And, again, you've got to give a lot of credit to the bullpen tonight.

Q. Yeah. How important was it -- the first couple games, it was pretty much Julio, Cal, and Jorge doing all the work for you, but we saw kind of the depth of your lineup and what it can do. To get that sort of production out of the bottom of your order and get Geno going, how big is that moving forward?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. I think we're really clicking when you're going -- when you're adding those at-bats up and down the lineup.

And as you mentioned, J.P., a big night, and being able to get that bottom of the order to get it back up to the top, and just some great at-bats down there tonight and some huge contributions.

I thought J.P.'s homer there to get that run back that they were able to get was big. And otherwise, you know, just continued offense tonight and adding on. I think that's such a big part of it tonight. You know, getting a lead, but also continuing to add on as the game went on, and that bodes well for us going forward.

Q. With the rain delay, that can be difficult for Logan and starting pitchers and their routines and things. And there is even some uncertainty tomorrow with the game time. It depends on what goes on in New York right now. Does that affect the team? And obviously the last game being the toughest to win?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. I think it's playoff time, and you've just got to be ready for anything. And these guys understand that.

I thought they did a really nice job during the rain delay staying loose but staying intense enough to come right out and get after it. And our guys just -- it's a great group, and, you know, tomorrow, if it's early, we'll be ready to go early. If it's later, we'll be ready then too.

But I think this is a team that's prone to make adjustments, and we've been doing it all season long.

Q. We've seen Logan be so diverse with how he utilizes the slider and the splitter. We've seen him use it to get ahead, put it away with the fastball, vice versa. Today where his main usage was with those pitches. Just how impressive is that for in-game to adjust with those two specific offerings?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. I think, again, he and Cal have worked together for so long and know each other so well, and you come up with that game plan prior to. You go out there, and you see what's working, what isn't working. You see the adjustments that may or may not be being made, and that's what you do. You make your adjustments.

And I thought they -- again, great game plan going out. Great adjustments throughout. And Logan's execution was beyond reproach tonight, and it just was a great job all around.

Q. Dan, you're up 8-1. You probably didn't think you were going to have to go to your closer. How difficult is it to go to Andres in that situation? And also do you have a Game 4 starter?

DAN WILSON: Yeah. Not ideal. You don't want to have to use your closer right there. But I give Muny a lot of credit for coming in there and slamming the door. Not an easy situation. And even with a runner on first base, I thought he came in, and I give him a lot of credit for slamming the door and getting us those three outs and winning the ballgame for us.

And tomorrow Bryce Miller will be on the hill for us.