The Seattle Mariners secured a spot in the American League Championship Series by defeating the Detroit Tigers 3-2 in 15 innings, setting a record for the longest winner-take-all game in MLB post-season history. Jorge Polanco’s decisive single off Tommy Kahnle scored J.P. Crawford, breaking the tie in the seventh inning.
The upcoming best-of-seven ALCS will commence with Game 1 in Toronto on Sunday at 8:03 p.m. ET. Toronto, the AL East champions with a 94-68 record, will face Seattle, who clinched the top spot in the AL West with a 90-72 record. The series will shift to Seattle for Game 3 after the first two games in Toronto.
Having both entered the league in 1977, the Blue Jays quickly became contenders, winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993. In contrast, the Mariners reached their first post-season in 1995 and have not made it to a World Series. The Jays have a 4-2 record against the Mariners this season, including a sweep in Seattle in May.
Toronto advanced to the ALCS after defeating New York in the ALDS, with standout performances from Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage. The Mariners feature power hitter Cal Raleigh, who led the league with 60 home runs and 125 RBIs this season. Both teams are preparing for a thrilling ALCS matchup.
For Toronto, the return of injured star Bo Bichette and potential roster additions like Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt could bolster their chances. Meanwhile, Seattle’s all-stars, including Randy Arozarena and Bryan Woo, provide a strong lineup for the upcoming series.
The Blue Jays have enjoyed strong support from fans in the Pacific Northwest, but the high demand for playoff tickets and potential restrictions on out-of-region sales may tip the home-field advantage towards the Mariners in the upcoming series.