TORONTO – The hunger of two franchises will be palpable when Game 6 of the American League Championship Series jumps off from Rogers Centre.
In one dugout: The Seattle Mariners, just one win from their first AL pennant and World Series appearance in franchise history, already advancing further than they ever have by virtue of holding a 3-2 lead in this ALCS.
Across the field, the Toronto Blue Jays, still searching for their first World Series trip since winning consecutive titles in 1992-93 and hoping to avoid a third ALCS loss in a decade after losing to the Kansas City Royals in 2015 and Cleveland a year later.
It’s a pitching rematch from Game 2, when Logan Gilbert lasted only three innings but got 10 runs of support from Seattle’s offense. Rookie Trey Yesavage bore the brunt of that damage, giving up five runs in four-plus innings.
Now, he’s pitching to save the season, though the game’s stakes ensure Yesavage and Gilbert will both be on very short leashes.
What time is Mariners vs Blue Jays game today?
First pitch for Game 6 of the ALCS is set for 8:03 p.m. ET in Toronto.
Where to watch Mariners vs Blue Jays: TV channel, stream ALCS Game 6
TV: Fox Sports 1
Live stream: Watch this game on Fubo
Watch ALCS Game 6 live on Fubo
Blue Jays’ John Schneider criticized for moves in Game 5 loss
TORONTO – John Schneider subscribes to a sage theory in this extremely online era: Never read the comments.
He has taken a beating online and even from the sports network that broadcasts Toronto Blue Jays games after the manager inserted Brendon Little into the eighth inning of Game 5 of the ALCS. As you may have heard, the move backfired terribly, the Blue Jays lost 6-2 and now they face a must-win Game 6 against the Seattle Mariners to stay alive in this ALCS.
When asked before a must-win Game 6 whether he doomscrolls late into the night, Schneider had a ready answer.
“For one, I don’t have TikTok,” he says.
“Two, I don’t have Twitter; and three, I could care less what people think about me other than in my clubhouse.”
Is George Springer playing tonight?
TORONTO — George Springer is back in the Blue Jays’ lineup for ALCS Game 6.
Manager John Schneider had confidence Springer would return, two days after he was drilled on the right knee by a Bryan Woo fastball in Game 5. X-rays and a CT scan taken Friday were both negative, and Schneider said Springer would play if he could handle any pain.
Springer is batting .318 (7-for-22) with two homers in the ALCS, and he’s hit three homers with a .933 OPS this postseason.
“It’s pretty incredible to take 97 off the kneecap and be back in the lineup,’ Daulton Varsho said before Game 6.
— Gabe Lacques
Mariners lineup today
Julio Rodríguez (R) CF
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Jorge Polanco (S) DH
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
Randy Arozarena (R) LF
Eugenio Suárez (R) 3B
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Dominic Canzone (L) RF
Leo Rivas (S) 2B
Blue Jays lineup today
George Springer DH
Nathan Lukes LF
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 1B
Alejandro Kirk C
Daulton Varsho CF
Ernie Clement 3B
Addison Barger RF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa 2B
Andrés Giménez SS
Have the Mariners ever won a World Series?
Seattle is one of five teams that has never won a World Series title and is the only club in Major League Baseball that has never even reached the Fall Classic.
The Mariners came into existence in 1977 and didn’t make the playoffs for the first time until 1995. This year marks Seattle’s fourth appearance in the ALCS after losing in 1995 (Cleveland), 2000 (Yankees) and 2001 (Yankees).
When did the Blue Jays win the World Series?
The Toronto Blue Jays won back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993.
They defeated the Atlanta Braves in six games in 1992 for their first title and then beat the Philadelphia Phillies in six to repeat, clinching on Joe Carter’s walk-off home run.
Mariners vs Blue Jays predictions, Game 6 odds
When does the World Series start?
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
*Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29
*Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31
*Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1, TBD on TBD
* — if necessary
