TORONTO — It all comes down to this. Both teams can see the finish line, but only one will make it.
An unforgettable American League Championship Series has gone to the limit, with the Blue Jays reacting Sunday night to force this power-to-power showdown against the Mariners in a decisive seventh game, to be played tonight at the Rogers Centre.
Who will be the hero? Who will be the villain? You’ll have to watch it to find out.
“Anything can happen in Game 7,” said the Blue Jays hitter, the Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
At stake 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 trying to reach the top of baseball for the first time in a franchise history that is now approaching five decades.
Additionally, Toronto has not played a Game 7 since the 1985 ALCS against the Royals; for Seattle, it will be the first. So one of the two teams will get their first victory in a Game 7. Historically, teams that play an all-or-nothing Game 7 at home are 30-29.
“It’s a game of life or death. Either we win, or we go home,” said Addison Barger of the Blue Jays. “And we are clear about it.”
The Mariners did not play their characteristically clean baseball in Game 6, something they will look to correct in the outcome. Seattle didn’t flinch when it lost two games at home midway through the series, and this team isn’t about to fold now.
“This is a team that has done the little things all season long,” said Mariners manager Dan Wilson. “It’s also a team that has stood up many times. This is another opportunity to do it, and we’ll do it tomorrow night in Game 7.”
When is the game and how to watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 pm ET (5:08 pm PT) tonight at the Rogers Center and can be seen on FOX and FOX Deportes.
Blue Jays fans in Canada will be able to follow the broadcast on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ with Buck Martínez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio commentary with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.
Who will be the openers?
Sailors: George Kirby (0-1, 7.07 ERA in three postseason starts) knows this scenario well, although the last time he pitched here in the playoffs was in a very different context: closing Game 2 of the 2022 American League Wild Card Series, in what remains his only appearance as a reliever in the Major Leagues. He will look to bounce back after his last outing against these Blue Jays, in which he allowed eight earned runs in a 13-4 loss in Game 3 in Seattle. The Mariners have tried to avoid using him on the road this postseason, as all three of his starts have come at T-Mobile Park. But with no other options, they are confident he can overcome his 5.16 ERA on the road during the regular season and keep the game close, because the bullpen will also be heavily involved with the season on the line.
Blue Jays: Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA in the regular season) will make the most important start of his career in this Game 7, exactly why the Blue Jays acquired him at the trade deadline. 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 innings of two runs with eight strikeouts. Those two lines came in the first inning, but Bieber returned to the dugout asking his teammates to back him up, because he knew he had his best repertoire. He’ll need to do it again — and make the necessary adjustments — to lead the Blue Jays to their first World Series in 32 years.
What might the lineups look like?
Sailors: Wilson made a major adjustment before Game 5, removing Randy Arozarena from the leadoff spot in the lineup for the first time since July 30. And as a manager who values consistency in the lineup, he’ll likely repeat the same order from the last two games — starting with Julio Rodríguez batting leadoff. He has also opted for Dominic Canzone in right field instead of Victor Robles–who, according to the club, is healthy after his collision with the wall in foul territory in Game 3–, since Robles is just 3 for 26 this postseason.
Tiles: The Blue Jays are expected to repeat a lineup similar to the one from Game 6. Manager John Schneider has maintained his confidence in Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base, who represents the only real “call” in the offensive order.
How do bullpens project behind starters?
Sailors: Virtually everyone will be available, including starters Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. The only pitcher from the 13-man squad who won’t be there is Logan Gilbert, who allowed five runs (four earned) in just over four innings in his Game 6 start. Woo said he came out of his first relief appearance in Game 5 well and is “ready to pitch” if necessary, although the Mariners preferred to use him in a closer game than Sunday’s 6-2 loss. If Miller or Woo are used, they will likely do so to open innings without runners on base. The main relievers will be the Mexican Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and the Venezuelan Eduard Bazardo. Unless Kirby is unstoppable, everything points to a collective approach, as was the case in the 15-inning victory in Game 5 of the ALDS against Detroit.
Tiles: The big unknown is Jeff Hoffman, who pitched two innings to close out Game 6. He looked like no other time this season and will be available for Game 7, although he hadn’t worked two innings since April. While the Blue Jays might be hesitant to use Brendon Little again after his difficult exit in Game 5, everyone will be available. That includes Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman, who could step into action if something emerges and the team needs to go beyond its usual relievers like Louis Varland and Seranthony Dominguez.
Are there injuries to consider?
Sailors: Woo is expected to pitch at some point in Game 7, after spending nearly a month out with pectoral inflammation that kept him off the ALDS roster against Detroit. He made his debut in this postseason in the sixth and seventh innings of Game 5, allowing a double by Kirk on his first pitch, followed by an RBI single by Clement. Woo also hit Springer in the right knee with a 95.6 mph fastball, showing command issues on the arm side.
Tiles: Bo Bichette was left off the ALCS roster as he continues to rehab a sprained left knee, and his status will be a daily topic in Toronto as he tries to return in time for an eventual World Series. Plus, this is the final year of Bichette’s contract with the Blue Jays, the only organization he’s ever known, which adds to the pressure.
Venezuelan Anthony Santander was removed from the roster before Game 4 due to a back injury, so he will no longer be eligible for the World Series and his 2025 season has concluded.
Otherwise, the Blue Jays are healthy. Springer is still dealing with knee discomfort after being hit by a pitch in Game 5, but was able to play in Game 6.
Who is on and who is not?
Sailors: It’s hard to call anyone “on” after Game 6, when the Mariners scored just two runs and left six runners on base. That said, they managed long shifts and generated constant, albeit uncapitalized, traffic. Naylor hit his third home run of this postseason in Game 6, raising his OPS to .974. And although he went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, Raleigh maintains a 1.028 OPS in October. Seattle will almost certainly need a multi-run inning if it wants to advance, so its power hitters will need to respond like they did in Games 1 and 2.
Tiles: Guerrero might be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. His sixth home run this postseason tied him with Joe Carter and his compatriot José Bautista as the club’s all-time leaders in October. The rest of the lineup is also on the rise, after an explosive offense in the ALDS against the Yankees. Clement is hitting .447, Barger homered in Game 6 and Varsho is making better contact, a good sign of his hidden power.
Anything else fans should know?
• This will be just the second Game 7 in Blue Jays history. The first was in the 1985 ALCS against the Royals, which Toronto lost. That 1985 team still holds the club’s record for most regular season wins, with 99.
