TORONTO — It all comes down to this. Both clubs see the finish line, but only one will get there.
An unforgettable American League Championship Series went the distance, with the Blue Jays rebounding Sunday night to force this powerful showdown with the Mariners to a deciding Game 7, which will be played tonight at Rogers Center.
Who will be the hero? Who will be the goat? You’ll have to log in to find out.
On the line is the opportunity to face the Dodgers in the World Series. The Blue Jays are seeking their first pennant since 1993, while the Mariners are looking to reach baseball’s pinnacle for the first time in a franchise history that spans nearly five decades.
Additionally, Toronto hasn’t appeared in a Game 7 since the 1985 ALCS against the Royals; it will be Seattle’s first. So, one team or the other will get the franchise’s first win in game seven. Historically, teams are 30-29 in Game 7s at home.
“It’s a do or die game. It’s win or go home,” said Toronto’s Addison Barger. “So we understand that.”
“This is a team that has done little things all season,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “They’re also a team that has bounced back a lot. This is a chance for us to do it again, and we’ll do it tomorrow night in Game 7.”
When is the match and how can I watch it?
Game 7 is live at Rogers Center and can be seen in the United States on FOX.
Blue Jays fans in Canada can tune in via Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the broadcast with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio call with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.
All series are available in the United States on MLB.TV with authentication from a participating pay TV provider. Games are also available live internationally, but not in Canada. Sportsnet is the exclusive English-language MLB broadcaster in Canada for every playoff game, while TVA Sports will cover the entire AL playoffs and World Series in French and broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL playoffs in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Sailors: George Kirby (0-1, 7.07 ERA in three postseason starts) is no stranger to this venue, but the last time he pitched here in the postseason it was in a radically different setting — closing out Game 2 of the 2022 AL Wild Card Series in what remains his only big league relief outing. But he’ll look to bounce back from his most recent appearance against these Jays, having allowed eight earned runs in a blowout 13-4 Game 3 loss in Seattle. The Mariners adamantly tried to avoid starting him on the road in October, as all three of his starts came at T-Mobile Park. But with no other options, they’re counting on him to overcome his 5.16 regular season road ERA and keep the game close, as the bullpen will be just as much on the line with their season on the line.
Blue Jays: Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA in regular season) is poised for the best start of his career in Game 7, which is exactly why the Blue Jays traded him at the trade deadline. Rebounding after a rough outing against the Yankees in the ALDS, Bieber was at his best in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Mariners on Wednesday, pitching six two-run innings with eight strikeouts. Both of those runs came in the first inning, but Bieber returned to his dugout imploring his teammates to “come get me” because he knew he had the best of him. He’ll need it – and the right adjustments – to pitch the Blue Jays to their first World Series in 32 years.
What are the starting compositions?
Sailors: Wilson made a notable shakeup before Game 5, moving Randy Arozarena out of the top spot for the first time since July 30, and Arozarena remains at No. 5 for Game 7. Although Wilson likes the consistency of the lineup, he made some adjustments for this one, flipping Josh Naylor (No. 3) and Jorge Polanco (cleanup) up the order and replacing Victor Robles to Dominic Canzone in right field. Robles, 3 for 26 in October, is making his first start since crashing into the wall on a catch attempt in foul territory in Game 3. Leo Rivas also moves into 8th place after hitting ninth in the other three ALCS games he started.
“Looking at how (Robles) swung the bat, and I think, more or less, the energy he brings to our club and the energy he brings to the lineup and some of the things he can do on base (factored into the decision),” Wilson said. “So a chance to bring him in today and, again, make a little adjustment, change things up a little bit.”
Blue Jays: Manager John Schneider continued to trust Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base, and the Blue Jays are rolling with the same lineup for the third straight game.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Sailors: Almost everyone will be available, including starting pitchers Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. The only option among all 13 pitchers who won’t be is Logan Gilbert, who allowed five runs (four earned) in four-plus innings in his Game 6 start. Woo said he came away from his first relief appearance in Game 5 feeling good and “ready to go” if necessary, although the Mariners would have preferred to use him in a closer game than their 6-2 loss Sunday night. If and when he and Miller are deployed, they will likely do so for a clean inning rather than with traffic. These places will be reserved for Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo. Unless Kirby is completely lights out, expect it to be an all-hands effort again, much like Seattle’s 15-inning Game 5 ALDS win over Detroit.
Blue Jays: The big variable here is Jeff Hoffman, who pitched two innings to close out Game 6. He looked the best he has all season and will be available in Game 7, of course, but Hoffman hasn’t pitched two innings since April. While the Blue Jays may be hesitant to return Brendon Little after his tough outing in Game 5, it will be all hands on deck. That includes Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman, who will be options if something unexpected happens and the Blue Jays have to look beyond their regulars like Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez.
Sailors: Woo is expected to participate in Game 7 in some capacity, after spending nearly a full month recovering from pectoral inflammation, which forced him off the Mariners’ ALDS roster against the Tigers. He made his first appearance in this postseason in the sixth and seventh innings of Game 5 and gave up a double to Kirk on his very first pitch, then an RBI single to Clement two batters later. Woo also hit Springer in the right kneecap with a 95.6 mph fastball, highlighting some of the difficulties he had with arm-side command.
Blue Jays: Bo Bichette has been left off the Blue Jays’ ALCS roster as he continues to recover from his sprained left knee, and his status will remain a daily story in Toronto as it strives to return in time for a potential World Series. Given that this is also the final year of Bichette’s deal with Toronto, the only organization he has ever known, the stakes are extremely high.
Otherwise, the Blue Jays are in good health. Springer is still dealing with knee soreness after that kneecap hit in Game 5, but he was able to play in Game 6.
Who is sexy and who is not?
Sailors: It’s hard to call anyone “hot” coming off the heels of Game 6, when the Mariners scored just two runs and stranded six baserunners. That said, they managed a lot of at-bats and created consistent traffic – without taking any money. Naylor crushed his third home run of October in Game 6 that got them on the board, increasing his postseason OPS to .974. And despite going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, Raleigh still has a 1.028 OPS in October. The Mariners will almost certainly need a twisted inning if they want to advance, which means they’ll need their hitters to step up like they did in Games 1-2.
Blue Jays: Guerrero might be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. His sixth postseason home run alone was enough to tie him with Joe Carter and Jose Bautista for the most all-time postseason home runs in Blue Jays history. This lineup is also heating up around Guerrero, after a massive offensive performance in the ALDS against the Yankees. Clement is hitting .447, Barger homered in Game 6, and Varsho is driving the ball more, a good sign of the sneaky power threat.
Is there anything else fans might want to know?
