The Toronto Blue Jays are set to face the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series following the Mariners’ 3-2 victory over the Detroit Tigers in a marathon Game 5 that lasted 15 innings. This game marked the longest winner-take-all contest in Major League Baseball postseason history.
Jorge Polanco’s clutch single off Tommy Kahnle on a full count brought home J.P. Crawford, breaking a deadlock that had persisted since the seventh inning when Seattle tied the score at 2-2.
The American League Championship Series will commence with Game 1 in Toronto at 8:03 p.m. ET on Sunday, followed by Game 2 on Monday. The series will then shift to Seattle for Game 3.
The matchup pits the top two seeds in the American League against each other. Toronto, with a 94-68 record, claimed the AL East title and topped the league standings, while Seattle’s late-season surge propelled them to the top of the AL West with a 90-72 record. Both teams earned byes in the Wild Card round.
Toronto had a 4-2 edge over Seattle in their head-to-head matchups this season, with the Blue Jays securing their first sweep in Seattle since 1991 in a series held in May. On the other hand, the Mariners won two out of three games against Toronto at Rogers Centre in April.
Both teams entered the league in 1977, but Toronto achieved postseason success earlier, reaching their first ALCS in 1985 and clinching consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. In contrast, the Mariners didn’t make the postseason until 1995 when MLB expanded the playoff format.
Although the Mariners have never made it to a World Series, they have a history of postseason success against the Blue Jays, notably sweeping Toronto in a Wild Card Series in 2022.
In the recent ALDS, Toronto defeated New York 3-1, with standout performances from pitchers Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage, as well as strong offensive contributions from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The Blue Jays are optimistic about potential reinforcements for the ALCS, with star players like Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt likely to play a role.
The Mariners feature power-hitter Cal Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs this season. Other Mariners standouts include Randy Arozarena and Bryan Woo, both key players in the team’s success.
Despite traditionally enjoying fan support in Seattle, the Blue Jays may face a different atmosphere due to higher playoff ticket prices and potential restrictions on out-of-region fan attendance.
