ALCS Preview: Mariners vs. Blue Jays
The Seattle Mariners will face the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series after Seattle edged Detroit 3-2 in 15 innings in Friday’s decisive Division Series Game 5. With a full count, Jorge Polanco lined a single off Tommy Kahnle to drive in J.P. Crawford and send Seattle to its first ALCS appearance since 2001, while Detroit’s season-ending ball proved heartbreakingly close for the Tigers.
The best-of-seven ALCS will begin Sunday at 8:03 p.m. ET in Toronto, marking the first time these two clubs have met in a full playoff series. The Blue Jays, who finished the regular season with a league-best 94-68 record, own home-field advantage for Games 1 and 2 before the series shifts to Seattle for Games 3 and 4, and potentially Games 6 and 7.
Seasonal Context: Top Seeds Meet in the ALCS
Toronto captured the AL East and led the league with its 94 wins, while Seattle surged late to overtake Houston for the AL’s top seed at 90-72. Both teams enjoyed byes in the Wild Card round, tipping the balance of momentum toward a series that fans expect to feature high-powered offenses and dominant pitching at different junctures.
Recent Form and Key Players
Toronto comes into the series following a 3-1 ALDS victory over the New York Yankees, with standout pitching from Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage. Offensively, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a focal point, posting a .529 batting average and driving in nine runs across the series. Toronto will also be hoping for a healthier Bo Bichette, who has been progressing after knee concerns that sidelined him late in the season and through the ALDS.
Seattle countered in the ALDS with a resilient team effort, anchored by Cal Raleigh’s power at the plate, and strong contributions from Randy Arozarena and Bryan Woo, who have been core components of the Mariners’ 2025 success. Raleigh finished with a league-leading 60 home runs and 125 RBIs on the year, while Arozarena’s 27 home runs and 31 stolen bases underscored the Mariners’ balance of power and speed. Woo’s strong late-season work, including a 15-7 record and a 2.94 ERA with 198 strikeouts, provides a potential cornerstone for the rotation if he can be fully ready after a pectoral issue sidelined him in the ALDS.
Injury Updates and Roster Talk
The Blue Jays are hopeful to welcome back depth and reinforcements as they navigate injuries to a few key players. Shortstop Bo Bichette has been progressing after missing the end of the regular season and the ALDS with a knee issue, while pitchers Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt could surface on the ALCS roster as Toronto weighs its options Sunday. For Seattle, managers will weigh bullpen depth and lineup flexibility as they prepare to challenge a Toronto staff that rose to the occasion in the division series.
Series Outlook: What Each Side Brings
Toronto’s offense has shown breadth, with contributions up and down the order, and a rotation that can lean on depth when the bullpen is stretched. Seattle will lean on its power threat in Raleigh, complemented by speed and contact from the top of the order. The Mariners have proven they can win tight, late games, a factor that will be tested against a Jays squad that has rebounded from a rough stretch late in the season to post a durable, competitive blueprint for postseason success.
What to Watch For
Expect a battle of bullpen management in Toronto, where late-inning specialists could decide pivotal games. Also watch how the managers deploy their lineups in the first two games, with a potential shift to Seattle bringing different tactical wrinkles. If the series becomes a chess match, the edge could swing on timely hitting from role players who rise to the moment in high-leverage situations.
Conclusion: A New Chapter for Two Open-Wight Ball Clubs
In a matchup of historic franchises founded in 1977, the ALCS pits a veteran Jays squad against a rising Mariners club that nudged into the league’s top seed. Whether Toronto’s lineup depth or Seattle’s late-season surge carries the day, fans are guaranteed a compelling series that could redefine both programs’ trajectories for 2025 and beyond.
