TORONTO — The American League Championship Sequence is heading to Canada as soon as once more, with the Seattle Mariners carrying the burden of historical past — needing only one extra win to achieve their first World Sequence.
They’ve already proven they’ll conquer Rogers Centre, the place they took the primary two video games of the ALCS from the Blue Jays. Now, they return with an opportunity to complete the job.
This collection might have simply swung the opposite approach, however every thing modified within the eighth inning of Recreation 5, when Cal Raleigh’s clutch homer and Eugenio Suárez’s grand slam flipped the script again in Seattle’s favor.
The problem now’s carrying that momentum into an surroundings the place few guests thrive.
“We’ve got a troublesome street forward of us,” Raleigh stated. “We all know they’re a superb ballclub. We simply should go in there, play our sort of sport, be aggressive and do what we do.”
The Blue Jays, in the meantime, aren’t fazed by having their backs towards the wall. Toronto posted one of the best house file within the American League throughout the common season (54-27, .667) and has responded effectively every time its season has teetered.
Profitable twice in their very own constructing — one thing they’ve achieved typically in 2025 — is the one path ahead, they usually’re embracing it.
“I’d say we’re in an incredible spot,” stated the Jays’ Ernie Clement. “We’ve bought an opportunity. That’s all we want.”
When is the sport and the way can I watch it?First pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (5:03 p.m. PT) on Sunday at Rogers Centre and could be seen in the USA on FS1.
Blue Jays followers in Canada can tune in through Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the published with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or hearken to the radio name with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.
All collection can be found within the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a collaborating Pay TV supplier. Video games additionally can be found stay internationally, though not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s unique English language broadcaster in Canada for each Postseason sport, whereas TVA Sports activities might be protecting your complete AL Postseason and the World Sequence in French and Broadcaster RDS will cowl your complete NL Postseason in French.
Who’re the beginning pitchers?Mariners: The Mariners formally locked in Logan Gilbert (1-0, 2.45 ERA) for this begin the day earlier than Recreation 6. Gilbert was tagged for some arduous contact in ALCS Recreation 2 however was additionally engaged on simply two days’ relaxation after pitching in reduction within the Mariners’ 15-inning marathon in ALDS Recreation 5 vs. Detroit. Seattle’s Opening Day starter, nevertheless, might be on an additional day’s relaxation this flip via. Final Monday in Toronto, Gilbert surrendered three runs that tied the sport earlier than being lifted after 58 pitches and three innings. He was both proper over the plate or removed from it, however once more, the mandatory changes may be made now that he’s again on his regular routine.
What would possibly the beginning lineups seem like?Mariners: Supervisor Dan Wilson made his second notable shakeup in as many days on Friday, transferring Randy Arozarena out of the leadoff spot for the primary time since July 30, pairing him again to again with Suárez and shifting Julio Rodríguez to the highest. Rodríguez has three homers this postseason, together with two within the first inning. After Friday’s win, that is prone to stay his go-to look.
Blue Jays: This all is determined by George Springer, who left Recreation 5 after taking a 96-mph fastball off his proper knee. He’ll do every thing potential to play, although, and if Springer can bat leadoff, the Blue Jays might roll out an identical lineup to Recreation 5:
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?Mariners: Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier — Seattle’s three highest-leverage relievers — mixed to permit only one hit over three scoreless innings in Recreation 5, they usually’ll nearly definitely all be used with the possibility to go for the knockout punch in Recreation 6. Bryan Woo might be unavailable after pitching two innings on Friday in his first outing since struggling pectoral irritation Sept. 19. Eduard Bazardo, nevertheless, has solely pitched twice on this collection and was this group’s unsung hero. He’s climbed the leverage ladder this October, and he’ll even be utilized.
Blue Jays: Brendon Little and Seranthony Domínguez allowed the large blows within the crushing Recreation 5 loss, however the Blue Jays will certainly want them once more. Jeff Hoffman might be recent, too, together with Louis Varland, however maybe John Schneider asks for extra from somebody like Braydon Fisher, the rookie who’s come out of nowhere to turn into a core piece of this bullpen in 2025. If Yesavage has a shorter outing, each Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer might be obtainable for a number of innings out of the bullpen.
Any accidents of observe?Mariners: Woo, in the end, made his first look of those playoffs when pitching the sixth and seventh innings in Recreation 5, when he surrendered a double from Alejandro Kirk on his very first pitch then a game-tying RBI single to Ernie Clement two batters later. Hitting Springer with a 95.6 mph fastball additionally highlighted a few of the struggles he is had with glove-side command. Whereas the Mariners had been excited to get their finest starter within the common season again on the market, as a result of he’s been constructed up as a starter and had such an extended layoff, it stays unclear what his availability could be for the remainder of this ALCS.
Blue Jays: Bo Bichette was left off the Blue Jays’ ALCS roster as he continues to rehab from his left knee sprain, and his standing will stay a every day story in Toronto as he pushes to return in time for a possible World Sequence. Provided that that is additionally the ultimate yr of Bichette’s deal in Toronto, the one group he has recognized, the stakes are sky excessive.
Who’s scorching and who just isn’t?Mariners: Raleigh is having an epic October, now with 4 homers to tie Jay Buhner (1995) for the second-most in a single postseason in franchise historical past (behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s six in ’95). He additionally has two doubles, six singles and 7 walks, good for a 1.127 OPS in 39 at-bats. He now returns to the venue the place he’s hit higher than anyplace. Arozarena, in the meantime, has struggled to the purpose that Wilson dropped him out of the leadoff spot; he’s now hitting .150 in 40 playoff at-bats.
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains to be on hearth. The Mariners selected to deliberately stroll him twice in Recreation 5 after he scorched a double into the left-center hole and we might see extra of that in Recreation 6. Clement remains to be one of many hottest gamers within the postseason, too, batting .429 whereas Lukes (.333) continues to function an incredible No. 2 hitter between Springer and Guerrero. It looks like Kirk’s bat is waking up, too, with a house run in Seattle and a tough double in Recreation 5. Exterior of Guerrero, the Blue Jays want somebody to step up and assist raise this offense.
Anything followers would possibly wish to know?Mariners
