The Toronto Blue Jays are set to face the Seattle Mariners in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) after the Mariners’ thrilling victory over the Detroit Tigers. Seattle clinched their place in the ALCS by winning Game 5 of their Division Series 3-2 in 15 innings. This historic game marked the longest winner-take-all contest in Major League Baseball postseason history.
Key Details of the ALCS Matchup
The ALCS will feature two of the top teams in the American League. The Blue Jays secured the AL East title with a record of 94-68, while the Mariners topped the AL West at 90-72. Both teams had byes in the Wild Card round.
Schedule for the ALCS
- Game 1: Sunday, 8:03 p.m. ET in Toronto
- Game 2: Monday in Toronto
- Game 3: Wednesday in Seattle
Season Performance and History
This season, the Blue Jays performed notably against the Mariners, posting a 4-2 record. The Jays achieved their first sweep in Seattle since 1991 during a series from May 9-11. However, the Mariners won two of three games against Toronto at Rogers Centre in April.
Franchise Histories
Both teams entered the league in 1977. The Blue Jays quickly became competitive, reaching their first ALCS in 1985 and winning consecutive World Series in 1992 and 1993. The Mariners had to wait until 1995 for their first postseason appearance and have not played in a World Series, with their last ALCS appearance in 2001.
Current Team Highlights
The Blue Jays recently defeated the New York Yankees in the ALDS with a 3-1 series victory. Key players included Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage, who excelled in pitching. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. stood out offensively with a .529 batting average and nine RBIs during the series.
The Mariners feature standout catcher Cal Raleigh, who led the majors with 60 home runs and had 125 RBIs this season. He was joined by fellow all-stars Randy Arozarena and Bryan Woo. Arozarena hit a personal best of 27 home runs, while Woo achieved a record of 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA. Woo missed the ALDS due to an injury but may return for the ALCS.
This upcoming ALCS is bound to attract significant attention, particularly from fans eager to support their teams. With ticket demand high, the playoff atmosphere promises to be electric.
