ALCS: Mariners Take Commanding 2-0 Lead

After two games at the Rogers Centre, the Mariners have silenced the highest-scoring offense of the ALDS and put the top-seeded Blue Jays in a critical hole as the series shifts to Seattle for Game 3.

Game 1: Pitching and Power vs. Rest

(Mariners 3, Blue Jays 1)

The series opener was a masterclass in pitching dominance from a Mariners staff that had every reason to be exhausted.

• Mariners Bullpen Magic: Starter Bryce Miller, pitching on short rest less than 48 hours after the ALDS clincher, gave the team six sharp innings after allowing a leadoff homer to George Springer. Crucially, the Mariners’ relievers—Gabe Speier, Matt Brash, and Andrés Muñoz—combined to retire 23 of the last 24 Blue Jays batters, throwing just 24 pitches total across three perfect innings.
• The Clutch Bat: The offense came from the familiar power of catcher Cal Raleigh, who mashed a game-tying solo home run in the sixth inning, and the continued clutch performance of Jorge Polanco, whose go-ahead single later in the inning proved to be the game-winner.
• Jays’ Cold Bats: Toronto’s offense, which had exploded for 34 runs against the Yankees in the ALDS, managed just two hits all night.

Game 2: The Three-Run Homer Barrage

(Mariners 10, Blue Jays 3)

Game 2 was an offensive explosion for Seattle, turning a tight contest into a rout driven by the long ball.

• Early Hammer: Julio Rodríguez set the tone immediately, launching a three-run homer in the first inning against rookie starter Trey Yesavage.
• The Decisive Blow: After Toronto fought back to tie the game at 3-3, the Mariners delivered the knockout punch in the fifth. Jorge Polanco hit his second three-run homer of the postseason, putting Seattle ahead 6-3. Polanco has now driven in six of his seven postseason runs via the three-run homer.
• The Hometown Hero: Mississauga, Ontario native Josh Naylor, playing through discomfort from a foul ball off his foot, put the game out of reach with a two-run homer in the seventh, finishing the night 3-for-5.
• Toronto’s Troubles Worsen: The Blue Jays’ superstar, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., continued to struggle, going hitless in the game and throughout the series. The team managed only six hits and showed zero ability to combat the Mariners’ relentless pitching. Seattle’s bullpen extended its scoreless streak to 18 consecutive innings dating back to the Division Series.

Looking Ahead: The Pressure Shifts West

The 2-0 series deficit is a catastrophic outcome for the top-seeded Blue Jays, who now face the daunting task of winning four of the next five games, with the next two games to be played in Seattle. For the Mariners, the only current MLB franchise to have never reached the World Series, they are just two victories away from making history.

Game 3 will feature George Kirby for Seattle against Shane Bieber for Toronto, a must-win situation for the Blue Jays to avoid a near-impossible deficit. The momentum, the bats, and the pitching depth are all currently riding the wave with Seattle.