Three years after their clash in the AL Wild Card round, the Mariners and Blue Jays match up once more in the 2025 ALCS. This time, it’s for the American League pennant. Toronto looks to clinch a World Series berth for the first time since 1993, while Seattle vies for their first trip to the Fall Classic.

Scheduled Starters and Start Times

• Game 1: Bryce Miller (Mariners) vs. Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays)
• Game 2: TBD vs. Trey Yesavage (Blue Jays)
• Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
• Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
• Game 5: TBD vs. TBD
• Game 6: TBD vs. TBD
• Game 7: TBD vs. TBD

Game 1 will start at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT on October 12. The second game, scheduled for Columbus Day (U.S.) and Thanksgiving (Canada), will start at 5:00 PM ET/2:00 PM PT on the 13th.

Here is a look at dates, times, and hosts for the final five games:

• Game 3: October 15 in Seattle – 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT (FS1 in U.S.)
• Game 4: October 16 in Seattle – 8:30 PM ET/5:30 PM PT (FS1)
• Game 5: October 17 in Seattle (if necessary) – 6:00 PM ET/3:00 PM PT (FS1)
• Game 6: October 19 in Toronto (if necessary) – 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT (FS1 in U.S.)
• Game 7: October 20 in Toronto (if necessary) – 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT (FOX/FS1 in U.S.)

FOX will air Games 1 & 2 of the ALCS in the United States, with the remainder of the games scheduled to air either on FOX or FS1. In Canada, Sportsnet will air the American League Championship Series.

A Look at the Offenses

Stat
Runs Scored	766	798
Home Runs	238	191
OPS	.740	.760
Whiff%	27.5%	21.6%
Hard Hit%	42.8%	41.2%

Seattle’s offense did not have it easy in the ALDS against the Tigers. The Mariners had to navigate the excellence of Tarik Skubal, who ended the series with a playoff-most 36 strikeouts. Twenty-two of those strikeouts came against the Mariners across 13 innings. Among the four teams that received the bye, the Mariners’ 58 strikeouts were easily the most.

Team	DS Games	Strikeouts
Mariners	5	58
Phillies	4	38
Brewers	5	34
Blue Jays	4	24

Strikeouts have long been a problem in Seattle but that didn’t stop the Mariners from producing in key situations. Jorge Polanco had an incredible ALDS despite the .182 batting average. Polanco hit two home runs and drove in the game-winning run in Game 5. Cal Raleigh hit a massive home run in Game 3, while Josh Naylor had six hits.

However, three others in the Mariners’ nucleus — Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Eugenio Suarez — did not have a strong series. The three combined for 26 strikeouts, and none of the three hit higher than .174.

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, played in the ALDS much like they had in the regular season: tough at-bats, finding holes, and generating runs without necessarily needing the home run.

Toronto did hit home runs against the Yankees. The Jays combined for nine home runs, three of which came off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Guerrero Jr. had a phenomenal series, as he hit .529 (1.609 OPS) with three home runs and a team-high nine RBI.

But aside from Vlad, Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement had OPS figures above 1.400. And if you had Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw on the shortlist for playoff heroes heading into the year, hand over those lottery predictions.

However, the Jays won’t have Bo Bichette on the ALCS roster. Bichette was not included, one day after the star shortstop suffered from apparent discomfort while running the bases on the eve of the ALCS.

A Look at the Pitching

Stat
Starters’ ERA	3.97	4.34
Relievers’ ERA	3.72	3.98
Strikeouts	1,375	1,430
Opponents’ AVG	.241	.241
Chase%	28.6%	28.4%

Kevin Gausman will get the ball in Game 1 for the Jays. Gausman did well enough to hold off the Yankees in Game 1, as he gave up just one run on four hits over 5.2 IP. The Blue Jays’ ace made just one start against Seattle this season, one that saw him give up seven hits and strike out three.

However, only one of those seven hits was an extra-base hit (double).

Trey Yesavage will go in Game 2 against the Mariners. The rookie had a memorable playoff debut, as he struck out 11 over 5.1 IP against the Yankees in Game 2 without allowing a hit. Yesavage induced a 58.1% Whiff% in that contest.

Yesavage’s fastball and unicorn slider have received a lot of attention. But so has the splitter, which will pose a threat to the left-handers (i.e., Crawford, Raleigh, Canzone) of the Mariners. Among pitchers with 30+ pitches in the ALDS/NLDS, Yesavage had the second-most whiffs (11) against lefties. The splitter yielded 10 of those.

Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt are on the ALDS roster for Toronto.

As for the Mariners, Bryce Miller will go in Game 1. The Mariners received splendid pitching from George Kirby in Game 5. But because that game went 15 innings, Seattle had to use Logan Gilbert and Luis Castillo in bulk relief, as well.

Miller did not pitch in Game 5. He struck out two over 4.1 IP (two earned runs) against the Tigers in Game 4.

Seattle will get back Bryan Woo, as the 2025 All-Star was added to the ALCS roster. It’ll be a chance for baseball fans across the U.S. and Canada to get a look at Woo, the 25-year-old who has one of the most powerful fastballs in the game. His four-seamer isn’t one with plus carry but plays up with extension and the approach angle.

Opposing batters hit just .153 with a 28.8% Whiff% (+21 Run Value) off the four-seam.

The bullpen, meanwhile, was a strength yet again in the ALDS. Gabe Speier, the big left-hander out of the Mariners’ bullpen, got a lot of work against the Tigers’ left-handed hitters, as he saw four games in that series. He surrendered two home runs.

Matt Brash and Andres Munoz, two others who saw work in Game 5, were also highly effective. The two, combined, gave up one earned run over 10 innings.

Our Prediction

It feels like the Blue Jays have the momentum. Toronto’s offense can do damage in several different ways, even without Bo Bichette in the lineup.

This should be a tight series. Nonetheless, we’ll go with Toronto to make it back to the World Series for the first time in over 30 years.

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