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It all depends on this: Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners American League Championship Series decider to meet in Game 7 The winner advances to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series on Monday night at the Rogers Center.
For Toronto, it’s a chance to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 1993. For Seattle, this is an opportunity to make history with the franchise’s first pennant.
“If you love postseason baseball, that’s what it’s all about,” said Blue Jays veteran Kevin Gausman, who plans to be available in the bullpen.
“You can see Max Scherzer in the fifth [inning]You can see me later in the game. It’s all hands on deck. It’s fun. This is what we want as players. We’ve all been grinding since February, even before that. Now, we win one game, we’re going to the World Series.”
Potential starters: Shane Bieber vs. George Kirby
Game 7 will feature a rematch of the Game 3 pitching duel between Toronto’s Shane Bieber and Seattle’s George Kirby.
The 2020 AL Cy Young winner acquired by Toronto at the trade deadline has been steady in October. Throughout the postseason, Bieber has recorded 40.1 innings with a 3.57 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and only seven walks. in game 3 against seattleHe gave up two runs and struck out eight in six innings.
Bieber’s command and ability to limit hard contact has been key for Toronto, and his postseason experience could prove vital in a high-pressure environment.
“Getting to this point is a result of a lot of events and dominoes,” Bieber said after Game 6. “But now I get the ball tomorrow, and I’m super excited for it.
“This is what I love to do and I’m grateful for every opportunity,” he said.
Kirby has shown flashes of dominance, but struggled in his last outing against Toronto, giving up eight runs in four innings in Game 3. Overall, Kirby has posted a 4.21 ERA with 137 strikeouts and 29 walks in 126 innings this season.
In the postseason, he has been more inconsistent – pitching five strong innings against Detroit in the ALDS before faltering against the Blue Jays.
a look at the past
The last time the Blue Jays were in the ALCS, they lost to the Cleveland Indians (now the Guardians) in five games in 2016. Toronto was eliminated by the Kansas City Royals in the 2015 ALCS, and lost the series 4–2.
The Blue Jays have not appeared in a Game 7 since the 1985 ALCS, when Dave Stieb and the 99-win club lost 6–2 to George Brett and the Royals at Exposition Stadium. The Royals won the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games.
For the Mariners, this is the team’s first Game 7 of the postseason. The Houston Astros and eventual World Series champions defeated the Mariners in three games in the 2022 ALDS. The 2000 and 2001 Mariners were eliminated in the ALCS twice in back-to-back postseasons at the hands of the New York Yankees.
The Yankees won the 2000 World Series against the New York Mets, but lost the 2001 Fall Classic to the Arizona Diamondbacks in seven games.
Seattle made the postseason in 1995 and 1997, losing to Baltimore in the ALDS (four games) and to Cleveland in the ALCS (six games).
Vlad’s October Surge
There is no bigger player for Toronto than Vladimir Guerrero Jr. this season. The first baseman is hitting .455 with six home runs and 11 RBI through the playoffs, taking over the Blue Jays’ offense in key moments.
His solo outburst in Game 6 Not only gave Toronto some breathing room, but also etched his name in the club’s postseason record book along with Joe Carter and Jose Bautista.
“Words can’t describe the guy. He’s a game-changer, he goes out there and everybody in the dugout has the utmost confidence in him.” Game 6 Starter Trey Yesavage SaiD“Destroying baseball around the clock.”
Guerrero’s ability to perform in high-leverage situations has energized the lineup and the fan base, making him the focal point of Toronto’s push for its first pennant in more than three decades.
First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. ET, live on Sportsnet.