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Game 6 of the World Series has special resonance for Blue Jays fans.

In Game 6 in 1992, it was Dave Winfieldâ€s two-run double in the top of the 11th at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium that gave the Jays the go-ahead as they clinched their franchise-first World Series championship.

And in Game 6 in 1993, as weâ€ve seen on repeat quite a bit of late, it was Joe Carterâ€s walk-off blast against the Phillies that sealed their second consecutive crown.

So is Game 6 title time for Toronto once again? Or are the Dodgers going to extend this World Series to a decisive seventh game?

Weâ€ll find out Friday night, when the building now known as Rogers Centre hosts its second World Series Game 6 and the largely Canadian crowd roots for another emphatic ending.

“I can’t wait,†said Toronto skipper John Schneider, “to see what the Rogers Centre is going to look, feel, and sound like.â€

If the Dodgers are going to pull themselves off the mat in this one, theyâ€ve got the right guy for the job. Yoshinobu Yamamoto was a marvel in Game 2, tossing his second consecutive complete game in this postseason and holding the ample Blue Jays offense to a single run. So as bad as things went for the Dodgers in Games 4 and 5, they feel pretty good about their chances of getting Game 6 started off right.

But the Blue Jays just put on an impressive display of depth and resilience at Dodger Stadium, shaking off a heartbreaking 18-inning defeat in Game 3 with two well-rounded, convincing victories that quieted the L.A. crowd and rewrote the narrative of this World Series. And theyâ€ve got the heart and soul of their rotation going in Game 6 in the form of Kevin Gausman.

History says that teams breaking a 2-2 tie on the road in a best-of-seven with the 2-3-2 format before going back home have won the series 74.1% of the time. So the pressure is on the Dodgers†bats, which have been held to a .201/.296/.354 slash line in this World Series.

“At the end of the day, regardless of who we run out there or what construct, we still got to take good at-bats, all of us,†manager Dave Roberts said. “And so that’s what I’m betting on.â€

Coming off a last-place finish in the AL East in 2024, little was expected of this Toronto team coming into the year, and, even after winning the East, no one could know what to expect of them in October, given that the current core had yet to win a playoff game.

But with their power, patience and perseverance, the Jays are one win away from ripping the trophy out of the defending champs†hands. Weâ€ll see if the Dodgers let it go.

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 6 is on Friday at Rogers Centre, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA)
Itâ€s the ace on the mound with a shot at the World Series. Sure, facing Yamamoto is as tough as it gets in the big leagues, but the Blue Jays couldnâ€t have drawn up their pitching plans any better, from Gausman right through to the bullpen. In Game 2 against the Dodgers, Gausman allowed solo shots to Will Smith and Max Muncy in the seventh inning of that loss, but he was otherwise at the top of his game through 6 2/3 innings. If Gausman can dodge that one big mistake, heâ€s a pitcher capable of going toe-to-toe with the great Yamamoto. His splitter also has a much different movement profile from Trey Yesavageâ€s, diving down instead of tailing, so there wonâ€t be much overlap for the Dodgers†hitters.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA)
Can he go the distance in three in a row? That would be unprecedented in this era of the game, but then again, tossing complete games in back-to-back postseason starts hadn’t been done in 24 years before Yamamoto’s gems in the NLCS and World Series. Yamamoto has reliably been at his best while on the biggest stage, holding opponents to two earned runs or fewer in six of his eight career postseason starts. The Dodgers couldn’t hope for anyone better on the mound with their season on the line.

What are the starting lineups?
Blue Jays: This all depends on George Springer, who left Game 3 with right side discomfort and was held out of Games 4 and 5. He took some swings in the cage off the pitching machine Wednesday in L.A., which is encouraging, but his status heading into Game 6 is still very questionable. If Springer is out, expect the Blue Jays to go back to Nathan Lukes atop the lineup with the righty Yamamoto on the mound.

Dodgers: Shuffling the order in Game 5 didn’t have the intended effect, as the Dodgers only mustered up one run on four hits. While manager Dave Roberts has discussed trying to get Miguel Rojas into the starting lineup, it would probably require moving Tommy Edman to center field. The team does not seem inclined to play him for nine innings in the outfield, especially not on turf.

How will the bullpens line up after the starters?
Blue Jays: Thanks to Trey Yesavageâ€s brilliant performance in Game 5, the Blue Jays have their bullpen in a great spot heading into Game 6. Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman handled an inning each, but with Thursdayâ€s off-day, John Schneider should have the entire bullpen to work with in the potential clincher. How the Blue Jays match up against Shohei Ohtani with their bullpen moves is still a storyline that could determine this series, but their back-end arms and the surprise emergence of Chris Bassitt as a legitimate weapon leave this group in a great place. In the bullpen, the advantage belongs to Toronto.

Any injuries of note?
Blue Jays: Springer left Game 3 with “right side tightness†and was left out of the Game 5 lineup, but he did run on the field prior to the game and took swings in the cages off the machine. He is expected to continue his rehab on the off-day, then give it another go ahead of Game 6. Even if Springer doesnâ€t start, he could be a pinch-hit or pinch-run option.

Bichetteâ€s left knee sprain had been looming over this team, but he was finally activated for the World Series and has played in parts of each game. With Springer out, Bichette has a natural home as the DH, which makes it likelier that his bat can stay in the lineup for the entire game.

Dodgers: Will Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasnâ€t missed a start since. Tommy Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. While he played five innings in center in Game 3, Edman is not expected to play the outfield unless it’s necessary. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Series roster as he continues to recover from a lower body abscess procedure.

Who is hot and who is not?
Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. launched his eighth home run of the postseason in Game 5, part of a remarkable start that saw both he and Davis Schneider homer off the first three pitches that Blake Snell threw. It wonâ€t be nearly as easy against Yamamoto, but the Blue Jays have to feel great about how this lineup stacks up, even without Springer. Addison Bargerâ€s emergence deserves more attention as another two-hit game has his average up to .346 while Alejandro Kirk and the red-hot Ernie Clement continue to roll. All this series has been missing is a trademark moment from Bichette. Even though heâ€s far from 100%, heâ€s too talented a hitter to count out and his ability to adjust could make him a great matchup for Yamamoto.

Dodgers: “Hot” is a relative descriptor for this team, which has been limited offensively since the NL Wild Card Series. Teoscar Hernández had two of the Dodgers’ four hits in Game 5 and is batting .286 overall. Otherwise, only two Dodgers have an OPS above .800 since the beginning of the NLDS: Ohtani (1.500) and Freeman (.872). Andy Pages, who’s hitting .080 overall, was left out of the starting lineup for the first time this postseason in Game 5.

Anything else fans might want to know?
• Only three pitchers have thrown three consecutive complete games in a single postseason in the last 55 years: Curt Schilling (2001), Orel Hershiser (1988) and Luis Tiant (1975).

• Ohtani tied Corey Seager’s franchise record set in 2020 for the most homers in a single postseason with his eighth in Game 3.

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John Cena

SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)…

Netflix and WWE today announced that John Cena’s final Raw appearance (as an active wrestler, at least) is scheduled for Nov. 17 in New York City, N.Y. at Madison Square Garden.

Cena says his advertised last match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on Dec. 13 in Washington D.C. Cena says that match will be his last. “Despite any speculation or rumors, on July 6, 2024 I announced I would retire from WWE in ring participation,” he wrote on Twitter/X earlier this month. “I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value. 12/13/25 will be my final match. I am beyond grateful for every moment WWE has given me. I am excited for 12/13 & look forward to seeing all of you one last time.”

ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…

Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Smackdown: CLICK HERE to stream (or search “wade Keller†on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)

The top rumored candidate to be John Cena’s opponent is rumored to be Gunther, who has been off TV since losing the World Heavyweight Title to C.M. Punk at Summerslam. Dominik Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, and even Adam “Edge” Copeland have been speculated upon as possible final opponents (although Copeland would require a deal with AEW and a willingness of Copeland to go back to WWE for one match).

The following are his prior dates:

• Jan. 6: Royal Rumble (didnâ€t win)
• March 1: Elimination Chamber (won to earn a WWE Title match)
• April 20: WrestleMania 41 (beat Cody Rhodes to win the WWE Title)
• May 10: Backlash (beat Randy Orton to retain the WWE Title)
• May 24: Saturday Nightâ€s Main Event (beat R-Truth)
• June 7: Money in the Bank (teamed with Logan Paul, lost to Jey Uso & Cody Rhodes)
• June 20: Smackdown (lost to R-Truth via DQ)
• June 27: Night of Champions (beat C.M. Punk)
• August 3: Summerslam (lost WWE Title to Cody Rhodes)
• August 31: Clash in Paris (beat Logan Paul)
• September 5: Smackdown (beat Sami Zayn)
• September 20: Clash in Paris (lost to Brock Lesnar)
• October 11: Crown Jewel (scheduled to face A.J. Styles)

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Letâ€s take this outside.

After two bitter battles under the Rogers Centre roof that resulted in a split, the 2025 World Series heads for the hills for Game 3 on Monday night. Dodger Stadium will welcome back its boys in blue, whose 5-1 victory in Game 2 was a reminder of the formula that had served them so well when they ran roughshod over the National League playoff field.

Itâ€s the starters, the starters, the starters.

“They’re all number ones,†catcher Will Smith said. “All four of those guys.â€

Now, itâ€s on Tyler Glasnow to follow the formula, go deep into the game and not let the dangerous Blue Jays†bats sniff blood in the L.A. bullpen.

Speaking of sniffing blood, itâ€s Mad Max on the other side. We saw a vintage, entertainingly angry outing from Max Scherzer in the ALCS, and now the 41-year-old expected future Hall of Famer returns to Dodger Stadium, where he starred for L.A. after the 2021 Trade Deadline, looking to fight off Father Time once again.

“I’m here to compete,†he said. “I’m here to win.â€

The winner here will have the math on their side. Teams that have grabbed a 2-1 lead at home have prevailed in the series 29 of 48 times (60.4%), while teams doing so on the road have prevailed 31 of 41 times (75.7%).

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3 is on Monday at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Blue Jays: RHP Max Scherzer (5-5, 5.19 ERA)
Scherzer gets the start, which could also line him up for a potential Game 7 back in Toronto if this Series goes the distance. While he struggled down the stretch in the regular season and was left off the ALDS roster against the Yankees, Scherzer came back with an incredible and memorable performance against the Mariners in the ALCS. Scherzer held Seattle to two runs over 5 2/3 innings, dancing around some danger while giving the baseball world another glimpse of Mad Max. This will be Scherzerâ€s biggest test yet, though, against the team he went to the NLCS with in 2021.

Dodgers: RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19 ERA)
After having to watch from the sidelines during last year’s World Series run, Glasnow takes the ball hoping to help the Dodgers to a 2-1 Series lead. He’s put together a solid run this postseason, striking out eight in back-to-back starts and allowing just one run in 13 1/3 innings (0.68 ERA). Glasnow had to miss a significant chunk of time this year with inflammation in his right shoulder, but he came back strong upon returning in July, posting a 2.86 ERA across his final 13 starts.

What might the starting lineups look like?
Blue Jays: Given a day off in between, letâ€s work with the likelihood that the Blue Jays put Bo Bichette (left knee sprain) back in the starting lineup. After starting Game 1 and eventually being pinch-run for, Bichette opened Game 2 on the bench before pinch-hitting late and staying in to play second base. It seems like that’s his position for the remainder of this Series, too.

Dodgers: Facing another right-hander in Scherzer, the Dodgers could very well run back the same lineup they used in the first two games, with the MVP trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop the order. Roberts has been contemplating making a change at the bottom of the lineup by sitting a slumping Andy Pages, which would likely open the door for Alex Call to start.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Blue Jays: After the off-day, the bullpen will be fully available to John Schneider and heâ€ll surely go back to Louis Varland, who has pitched in nearly every game this postseason and is often Torontoâ€s first move out of the bullpen in big moments. The big factor is how the Blue Jays handle Ohtani, a job that Mason Fluharty handled well in Game 1. The Blue Jays have also shown a willingness to be aggressive with Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Domínguez, their two top relievers on the back end. If Ohtani, Betts and Freeman come up in the seventh instead of the eighth or ninth, Schneider wonâ€t hesitate to be aggressive. Lastly, keep Chris Bassitt in mind as the bullpen wild card. His stuff has ticked up in a couple of postseason bullpen performances, and the Blue Jays trust him fully on this stage.

Dodgers: Yamamoto gave the bullpen an extended rest by going the distance again in Game 2, so everyone should be available. Roki Sasaki has emerged as the closer after dominating since his shift to the ‘pen. The bridge to Sasaki is the question mark for the Dodgers. They would like to use Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda in leverage, but both gave up three runs in the sixth inning of Game 1. Blake Treinen and Jack Dreyer could be options in big spots as well. The Dodgers expect to be without Alex Vesia for the World Series as he and his wife handle what the team described as a “deeply personal family matter.”

Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasnâ€t missed a start since. Tommy Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Series roster as he continues to recover from a lower body abscess procedure.

Blue Jays: Bichetteâ€s left knee sprain had been looming over this team, but he was activated for the World Series and made his first big league appearance at second base.

Anthony Santander was removed from the Blue Jays†ALCS roster in the middle of the series with a back injury, which makes him ineligible for the World Series. Springer is the only other injury of note after he took a 96 mph heater off his right kneecap in Game 5 of the ALCS, but judging by the heroic three-run homer he hit in Game 7, he is just fine.

Who is hot and who is not?
Dodgers: Smith continued to stay hot with a homer and an RBI single in Game 2. He’s hitting .314 since returning to the lineup during the NLDS. Ohtani picked up another hit and is progressing in the right direction, but he’s still hitting just .224 this postseason.

Pages singled in Game 2 for his first World Series hit, which was just his fourth hit this postseason (.093). Roberts said he is considering sitting Pages amid his slump, although the Dodgers would likely have to put a lesser defender in center field as a result.

Blue Jays: Springer ripped a double into the left-field corner in Game 2, but that was the only time the Blue Jays†offense felt threatening. Yamamoto was simply dominant, so we shouldnâ€t read too deeply into this as a poor performance from Torontoâ€s lineup, but it needs to bounce back immediately against Glasnow.

That responsibility will fall to Guerrero (batting .431) and Ernie Clement (.429 in), who has been one of the breakout stars of this postseason for the Blue Jays. Kirk was just heating up, too, with a 3-for-3 performance in Game 1, and Barger showed us all what heâ€s capable of with the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history.

Anything else fans might want to know?
• This is the Blue Jays†first trip to the World Series since 1993.

• Springer won the 2017 World Series MVP Award at Dodger Stadium. He launched five home runs in that Series and had some of the biggest moments of his young career on this exact field, including a three-run homer in Game 7.

• These will be the final games at Dodger Stadium for Clayton Kershaw, who has announced his retirement at the end of the season.

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The final NXT PLE of the year has a date and location.

As previously reported earlier in the week by Fightful Select, NXT confirmed on Saturday during their Halloween Havoc PLE that Deadline will take place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas on December 6. Along with the announcement, it was confirmed that the menâ€s and womenâ€s Iron Survivor Challenge matches will return. Tickets go on sale this Wednesday.

Deadline has been NXTâ€s final PLE dating back to 2022. The winners of the menâ€s and womenâ€s Iron Survivor Challenge matches usually go on to challenge the champion of their choosing, usually at New Yearâ€s Evil the following month. Oba Femi won the menâ€s Iron Survivor Challenge match at last yearâ€s PLE, winning the NXT Championship soon after.

Last yearâ€s womenâ€s winner was Giulia, overcoming the likes of Sol Ruca, Stephanie Vaquer, Zaria, and Wren Sinclair. Giulia would go on to win the NXT Womenâ€s Championship and is now on the main roster as the WWE Womenâ€s United States Champion.

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Bryan Rose

Bryan Rose is an editor from California that has been covering professional wrestling for well over a decade. He officially joined F4WOnline as an editor in 2017.

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TORONTO — Of all the things written and said about the Blue Jays in the aftermath of their 11-4 thumping of the defending champion Dodgers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, the words of outfielder Nathan Lukes might have best summed up the tone of his Toronto team.

“Weâ€re not gonna take it lightly,†he said of this opportunity, “and weâ€re gonna be a pain in the ass.â€

The Dodgers probably agreed with that sentiment after taking one on the chin in an opener that altered the narrative of this Series and only enlivened a hungry Canadian crowd all the more.

Though L.A. entered as a heavy favorite, now some doubt has crept in going into Game 2 on Saturday night at Rogers Centre. As they go up against the Blue Jays†most accomplished starter in Kevin Gausman, a Dodgers team trying to become the first since the 1998-2000 Yankees to repeat can ill-afford to lose this one.

Teams going down 2-0 on the road to start a best-of-seven postseason series have come back to win that series just 11 times in 57 tries (19.3%). So the Dodgers certainly donâ€t want to go down that road.

“I think that we can be better, we need to be better,†Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Gausman, these guys are fired up. They’re playing good baseball. So just one through nine, weâ€ve just got to continue to take good at-bats and play good baseball and then we’ll be fine.â€

The Blue Jays†approach against Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2 will be the same as it was against Blake Snell in Game 1 — make him work, make him sweat, make him hand it off to a muddled middle relief corps. Itâ€s the one area where these loaded Dodgers are vulnerable, as we saw when Emmet Sheehan and Anthony Banda bent in the opener.

After Game 1, let there be no delusions that this is some kind of a mismatch.

“Everyone’s comparing us to David and Goliath,†Lukes said. “But I think itâ€s more like Goliath vs. Goliath. Weâ€re the two last teams standing, and there’s a reason for that.â€

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 is live on FOX.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49 ERA)
Coming off an NLDS in which he made his first subpar playoff start since his postseason debut in 2024, Yamamoto responded in a big way in the NLCS. He shrugged off a leadoff home run from Jackson Chourio and went the distance in Milwaukee. The masterful performance was Yamamoto’s first complete game in the Majors and the first by a Dodger in the postseason since Jose Lima in the 2004 NLDS. The gem was the latest addition to a strong postseason résumé for Yamamoto, who has gone 4-1 with a 2.82 ERA in seven starts.

Blue Jays: RHP Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA)
After starting Game 1 in both the ALDS and ALCS, Gausman was bumped to Game 2 of the World Series to give him an added day of rest. Gausman came out of the bullpen in Game 7 of the ALCS against the Mariners, so this move keeps the 34-year-old veteran fresh after the 22-year-old Trey Yesavage stayed on regular rest for the opener. This postseason, Gausman owns a tidy 2.00 ERA, and while his 12 strikeouts over 18 innings is well below his typical rate, heâ€s made some big pitches in big moments to avoid damage. Yesavage also featured a great splitter in the start ahead of Gausman, but the Blue Jays believe that the fact they come from much different release points with different movement profiles will help Gausman.

What are the starting lineups?
Dodgers: Facing another right-hander in Gausman, the Dodgers are running back the same lineup they used in Game 1, with the MVP trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop the order.

Blue Jays: Shifting back to facing right-hander Yamamoto in Game 2 after seeing lefty Blake Snell in the opener, the Blue Jays flipped some of their platoons back, including Lukes sliding back into the No. 2 spot. One noticeable absence, however, is Bo Bichette starting the game on the bench. Bichette played second base and started Game 1, but was lifted for a pinch-runner during Toronto’s nine-run sixth inning.

Blue Jays: Game 1 couldnâ€t have gone much better for the Blue Jays on this front. Mason Fluharty was first out of the bullpen to face Ohtani, a matchup you should keep an eye on each game going forward, but after Seranthony Domínguez and Braydon Fisher handled the middle innings, the Blue Jays were able to get to the finish line with Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer. Thatâ€s a major advantage headed into Game 2 with the bullpen on the other side. Jeff Hoffman and Louis Varland are fresh, too, behind Gausman, who is this rotationâ€s best bet to go deep.

Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Will Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasnâ€t missed a start since. Tommy Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. Reliever Tanner Scott was not included on the World Series roster as he continues to recover from a lower body abscess procedure.

Anthony Santander was removed from the Blue Jays†ALCS roster in the middle of the series with a back injury, which makes him ineligible for the World Series. George Springer is the only other injury of note after he took a 96 mph heater off his right kneecap in Game 5 of the ALCS, but judging by the heroic three-run homer he hit in Game 7, he is just fine.

Who is hot and who is not?
Dodgers: Smith continued to stay hot with an RBI single in Game 1. He’s hitting .290 since returning to the lineup during the NLDS. Kiké Hernández (.300) and Edman (.289) have also been steady contributors in the lower half of the order.

Ohtani went deep in Game 1 –- his sixth homer this postseason — but he’s still batting just .222 overall. Andy Pages is hitting .077 this postseason. While he hasn’t done much at the plate, he will continue to start games because the Dodgers don’t have any other viable everyday options in center field, with Edman still managing his ankle.

Blue Jays: Thereâ€s still no hotter hitter in the World Series than Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whoâ€s batting .447 after a 2-for-4 opener. Ernie Clement deserves more of this spotlight, though, batting .435 and quietly having one of the best postseasons weâ€ve seen in Toronto. Alejandro Kirk is picking up steam after a 3-for-3 night and Addison Barger, fresh off the first pinch-hit grand slam in World Series history, represents another source of offensive upside in a lineup that needs it. After an 11-run outburst, the Blue Jays†lineup is suddenly the talk of this World Series, not the Dodgers†star-studded order.

Anything else fans might want to know?
• This is the Blue Jays†first trip to the World Series since 1993, the scene of Joe Carterâ€s famous walk-off home run in Game 6 against the Phillies. Carter will be on hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 2.

• With his 87th postseason game in a Dodgers uniform, Kiké Hernández will break a tie with Justin Turner for the franchise record.

• The Canadian anthem will be performed by Alessia Cara, who was born in Mississauga and grew up nearby in Brampton. The American anthem will be performed by Bebe Rexha.

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Turns out, the plane so many people were tracking was not occupied by Ohtani but rather Robert Herjavec, a businessman known for his role on the reality show “Shark Tank.â€

Well, now Ohtani really is Toronto-bound – along with the rest of his defending champion Dodgers – for the 2025 World Series that begins Friday night at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays didnâ€t land Ohtani, but, behind the profound postseason put together by their signature star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the George Springer swing that swung Game 7, they landed enough punches in an incredible ALCS against the Mariners to advance to the Fall Classic for the first time in a generation.

“I know they have great players,†Guerrero said of the mighty Dodgers. “So do we. But on the field it’s when everything matters.â€

While the Blue Jays havenâ€t been to this stage since going back-to-back in 1992 and ‘93, the Dodgers are trying to become the first team to go back-to-back since the 1998-2000 Yankees.

That makes this a fascinating study in contrasts between a Dodgers team that was World Series-or-bust from the beginning of this season and a Blue Jays team that rose from the ashes of last place last year to finally advance within October.

Rogers Centre will still be buzzing from that long-awaited Toronto triumph in Game 7, while the Dodgers will still be telling the tale of what they witnessed when Ohtani hit three homers and pitched six shutout innings with 10 strikeouts in the historic finishing touch to their nice-and-tidy sweep of the Brewers in the NLCS.

But come Friday night, it will be time to craft new stories, as the Blue Jays try to end the run of dominant starting pitching that has defined the Dodgers†postseason and L.A. tries to tame the terrific power-and-patience-aided Toronto offense.

Game 1 is a big one. The winner of Game 1 in the World Series has gone on to win it all in 76 of the prior 120 series (63%) and, more pointedly, 24 of the 30 Fall Classics (80%) in the Wild Card Era (since 1995).

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 1 is on Friday at Rogers Centre, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on FOX.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Snell is coming off a gem of a start against the Brewers in NLCS Game 1, eight scoreless innings in which he struck out 10, walked none, allowed just one hit and faced the minimum. Overall this postseason, he is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA (two earned runs in 21 innings) and 28 strikeouts against five walks.

Blue Jays: After the Blue Jays finally catch their breath Tuesday and Wednesday, theyâ€ll have some options for Game 1. Kevin Gausman has pitched Game 1 of both the ALDS against the Yankees and ALCS against the Mariners, but he came out of the bullpen in Game 7 on short rest after his Game 5 start. The Blue Jays could always consider that a high-intensity bullpen day, but thereâ€s also an argument to be made for starting rookie sensation Trey Yesavage in Game 1 with Gausman in Game 2.

Regardless of their order, Max Scherzer could be in line for a potential Game 3 with Shane Bieber in Game 4. The Blue Jays have also kept Chris Bassitt relatively stretched out despite his bullpen role, so there will be options.

What might the starting lineups look like?

Dodgers: Ohtani and Mookie Betts will be the top two and, beyond them, there could be some light shuffling in the order, depending on matchups. After tweaking the lineup quite a bit during the NLDS, the Dodgers used the same nine starters in all four NLCS games. By the end of that series, manager Dave Roberts had moved Will Smith up to the three-hole and Teoscar Hernández down to the sixth spot.

Blue Jays: If Bo Bichette returns for the World Series, and he says he will, then everything changes. Letâ€s work with the probability that Bichette needs to DH, which would slide Springer out to a corner outfield spot. Letâ€s also work with the likelihood of Snell starting Game 1, so the Blue Jays would be lining up for a lefty.

Blue Jays: Jeff Hoffman looks like a closer capable of shutting down games in the World Series, which wasnâ€t always the case in the regular season. He came up huge in Games 6 and 7 of the ALCS, and John Schneider is comfortable pushing him two innings in the right spot. Louis Varland has pitched in 10 of the Blue Jays†11 postseason games, so itâ€s just a matter of which inning youâ€ll see him in, while Seranthony Domínguez is the other setup man. One variable is Brendon Little, who had an ugly outing in the Game 5 ALCS loss, but the Blue Jays will need a lefty eventually. One of Braydon Fisher or Yariel Rodríguez could be asked to step into bigger spots, too, while Bassitt and Eric Lauer are the likely long relievers.

Any injuries of note?
Dodgers: Smith, who is dealing with a hairline fracture in his right hand, returned to the starting lineup during the NLDS and hasnâ€t missed a start since. Edman continues to manage his right ankle, which landed him on the injured list twice this year. Reliever Tanner Scott, who struggled in leverage in the regular season, believes he has recovered enough from a lower body abscess procedure to be an option for the World Series roster.

Blue Jays: Bichetteâ€s left knee injury remains the big story leading into this series. While Bichette has said heâ€s ready, the Blue Jays will still need to see him bounce back well from running the bases Wednesday and Thursday.

Anthony Santander was removed from the Blue Jays†ALCS roster in the middle of the series with a back injury, which makes him ineligible for the World Series. Springer is the only other injury of note after he took a 96-mph heater off his right kneecap in Game 5 of the ALCS, but judging by the heroic, three-run homer he hit in Game 7, he is just fine.

Who is hot and who is not?

On the other hand, Pages is just 3-for-35 this postseason. While he hasn’t done much at the plate, he will continue to start games because the Dodgers don’t have any other viable everyday options in center field, with Edman still managing his ankle.

Blue Jays: Is anyone hotter than Guerrero right now? The ALCS MVP is batting .442 with six home runs and a 1.440 OPS in the postseason, including six walks and just three strikeouts. The Dodgers will need to shape their entire pitching game plan around him. Springer is on a roll, too, while Clement may be the most underrated hitter coming into this series, batting .429. The Blue Jays would love to get a little more out of Kirk offensively, but at this point, thatâ€s being picky. This entire lineup has been rolling since the ALDS and John Schneiderâ€s only challenge is writing the names down in the right order. Every iteration has worked so far.

Anything else fans might want to know?

• This is the Blue Jays†first trip to the World Series since 1993, the scene of Joe Carterâ€s famous walk-off home run in Game 6 against the Phillies.

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TORONTO — Everything comes down to this. Both clubs can see the finish line, but only one will get there.

An unforgettable American League Championship Series has gone the distance, with the Blue Jays rebounding on Sunday night to force this powerhouse showdown with the Mariners to a seventh and deciding game, set to be played tonight at Rogers Centre.

Who will be the hero? Who will be the goat? Youâ€ll have to tune in to find out.

On the line is an opportunity to face the Dodgers in the World Series. The Blue Jays are hunting for their first pennant since 1993, while the Mariners are looking to reach baseballâ€s summit for the first time in a franchise history that spans nearly five decades.

Additionally, Toronto hasnâ€t participated in a Game 7 since the 1985 ALCS against the Royals; this will be Seattleâ€s first. So one team or the other will notch the franchiseâ€s first Game 7 win. Historically, teams are 30-29 in winner-take-all Game 7s in their home ballpark.

“It’s a do-or-die game. It’s win or go home,†said Torontoâ€s Addison Barger. “So we understand that.â€

“This is a team that has done the little things all season,†Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “It’s also a team that has bounced back a lot. This is a chance for us to do that again, and we’ll do it tomorrow night in Game 7.â€

When is the game and how can I watch it?

First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET (5:08 p.m. PT) tonight at Rogers Centre and can be seen in the United States on FOX.

Blue Jays fans in Canada can tune in via Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the broadcast with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio call with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?

Mariners: George Kirby (0-1, 7.07 ERA in three playoff starts) is no stranger to this venue, but the last time he pitched here in the postseason was under drastically different context — closing out Game 2 of the 2022 AL Wild Card Series in what remains his only big league relief outing. But heâ€ll look to rebound from his most recent appearance against these Jays, after surrendering eight earned runs in a runaway 13-4 loss in Game 3 in Seattle. The Mariners have adamantly tried to avoid pitching him on the road this October, as all three of his starts have been at T-Mobile Park. But with no other options, theyâ€re banking on him overcoming his 5.16 regular-season road ERA and keeping the game close, because the bullpen will be just as much in play with their season on the line.

Blue Jays: Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA in regular season) is set to make the biggest start of his career in Game 7, which is exactly why the Blue Jays traded for him at the Trade Deadline. Rebounding from a rough outing against the Yankees in the ALDS, Bieber was at his very best in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Mariners on Wednesday, throwing six innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts. Those two runs came in the first inning, but Bieber went back to his dugout imploring his teammates to “pick me up,†because he knew he had his best stuff. Heâ€ll need it — and the right adjustments — to pitch the Blue Jays to their first World Series in 32 years.

What might the starting lineups look like?

Mariners: Wilson made a notable shakeup ahead of Game 5, moving Randy Arozarena out of the leadoff spot for the first time since July 30. And for a manager whoâ€s valued lineup consistency, heâ€ll likely turn to the same order that heâ€s deployed in each of the two games since — starting with Julio Rodríguez out of the leadoff spot. Heâ€s also rolled with Dominic Canzone in right field over Victor Robles — whom the club says is healthy after crashing into the wall on a catch attempt in foul territory in Game 3 — as Robles is 3-for-26 this October.

Blue Jays: Expect the Blue Jays to roll back a similar lineup to Game 6. Manager John Schneider has continued to trust Isiah Kiner-Falefa at second base, which is the only real “decision†on the roster.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Mariners: Just about everyone will be available, including starting pitchers Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. The only option on the entire 13-man pitching staff who wonâ€t be is Logan Gilbert, who surrendered five runs (four earned) in four-plus innings in his Game 6 start. Woo said that he came out of his first relief appearance in Game 5 feeling fine and “good to go†if needed, though the Mariners wouldâ€ve preferred to use him in a closer contest than their 6-2 loss on Sunday night. If and when he and Miller are deployed, theyâ€ll likely be done so for a clean inning rather than with traffic. Those spots will be for Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, Gabe Speier and Eduard Bazardo. Unless Kirby is completely lights out, look for it to again be an all-hands-on-deck effort, much like in Seattleâ€s 15-inning win in ALDS Game 5 vs. Detroit.

Blue Jays: The big variable here is Jeff Hoffman, who threw two innings to close out Game 6. He looked the best he has all season and will be available in Game 7, of course, but Hoffman hasnâ€t thrown two innings since April. While the Blue Jays may be hesitant to go back to Brendon Little after his rough outing in Game 5, it will be all hands on deck. That includes Max Scherzer and Kevin Gausman, who will be options if anything unexpected happens and the Blue Jays need to look beyond their back-end regulars like Louis Varland and Seranthony Domínguez.

Mariners: Woo is expected to pitch in Game 7 in some capacity, after spending nearly a full month recovering from pectoral inflammation, which forced him to be left off the Mariners†ALDS roster vs. the Tigers. He made his first appearance of these playoffs in the sixth and seventh innings in Game 5 and surrendered a double to Kirk on his very first pitch, then a go-ahead RBI single to Clement two batters later. Woo also hit Springer on his right kneecap with a 95.6 mph fastball, highlighting some of the struggles he had with arm-side command.

Blue Jays: Bo Bichette was left off the Blue Jays†ALCS roster as he continues to rehab from his left knee sprain, and his status will remain a daily story in Toronto as he pushes to return in time for a potential World Series. Given that this is also the final year of Bichetteâ€s deal in Toronto, the only organization he has known, the stakes are sky high.

Otherwise, the Blue Jays are healthy. Springer is still dealing with a sore knee after that hit-by-pitch off his kneecap in Game 5, but he was able to play in Game 6.

Who is hot and who is not?

Mariners: Itâ€s hard to say that anybody is “hot†on the heels of Game 6, when the Mariners scored just two runs and stranded six baserunners. That said, they did grind out a lot of at-bats and created consistent traffic — just without cashing in. Naylor crushed his third homer this October in Game 6 that put them on the board, increasing his postseason OPS to .974. And despite an 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, Raleigh still has a 1.028 OPS this October. The Mariners will almost certainly need a crooked-number inning if they are to advance, meaning theyâ€ll need their sluggers to step up as they did in Games 1-2.

Blue Jays: Guerrero might be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. His sixth home run of this postseason alone was enough to tie him with Joe Carter and Jose Bautista for the most postseason home runs all-time in Blue Jays history. This lineup is heating up around Guerrero, too, after a massive offensive performance in the ALDS against the Yankees. Clement is batting .447, Barger launched a home run in Game 6 and Varsho is driving the ball more, a great sign from the sneaky power threat.

Anything else fans might want to know?

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TORONTO — The American League Championship Series is heading to Canada once again, with the Seattle Mariners carrying the weight of history — needing just one more win to reach their first World Series.

Theyâ€ve already shown they can conquer Rogers Centre, where they took the first two games of the ALCS from the Blue Jays. Now, they return with a chance to finish the job.

“Itâ€s huge. It puts us one more win away,†Julio Rodríguez said after Seattleâ€s 6-2 victory in Game 5. “Thatâ€s the whole mentality right now: One more win.â€

This series could have easily swung the other way, but everything changed in the eighth inning of Game 5, when Cal Raleighâ€s clutch homer and Eugenio Suárezâ€s grand slam flipped the script back in Seattleâ€s favor.

The challenge now is carrying that momentum into an environment where few visitors thrive.

“We have a tough road ahead of us,†Raleigh said. “We know theyâ€re a good ballclub. We just have to go in there, play our kind of game, be aggressive and do what we do.â€

The Blue Jays, meanwhile, arenâ€t fazed by having their backs against the wall. Toronto posted the best home record in the American League during the regular season (54-27, .667) and has responded well whenever its season has teetered.

Winning twice in their own building — something theyâ€ve done often in 2025 — is the only path forward, and theyâ€re embracing it.

“Iâ€d say weâ€re in a great spot,†said the Jays†Ernie Clement. “Weâ€ve got a chance. Thatâ€s all we need.â€

When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. ET (5:03 p.m. PT) on Sunday at Rogers Centre and can be seen in the United States on FS1.

Blue Jays fans in Canada can tune in via Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the broadcast with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio call with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Mariners: The Mariners officially locked in Logan Gilbert (1-0, 2.45 ERA) for this start the day before Game 6. Gilbert was tagged for some hard contact in ALCS Game 2 but was also working on just two days†rest after pitching in relief in the Mariners†15-inning marathon in ALDS Game 5 vs. Detroit. Seattleâ€s Opening Day starter, however, will be on an extra dayâ€s rest this turn through. Last Monday in Toronto, Gilbert surrendered three runs that tied the game before being lifted after 58 pitches and three innings. He was either right over the plate or far from it, but again, the necessary adjustments might be made now that heâ€s back on his normal routine.

What might the starting lineups look like?
Mariners: Manager Dan Wilson made his second notable shakeup in as many days on Friday, moving Randy Arozarena out of the leadoff spot for the first time since July 30, pairing him back to back with Suárez and shifting Julio Rodríguez to the top. Rodríguez has three homers this postseason, including two in the first inning. After Friday’s win, that’s likely to remain his go-to look.

Blue Jays: This all depends on George Springer, who left Game 5 after taking a 96-mph fastball off his right knee. Heâ€ll do everything possible to play, though, and if Springer can bat leadoff, the Blue Jays could roll out a similar lineup to Game 5:

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Mariners: Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier — Seattleâ€s three highest-leverage relievers — combined to allow just one hit over three scoreless innings in Game 5, and theyâ€ll almost certainly all be used with the chance to go for the knockout punch in Game 6. Bryan Woo is probably unavailable after pitching two innings on Friday in his first outing since suffering pectoral inflammation Sept. 19. Eduard Bazardo, however, has only pitched twice in this series and was this groupâ€s unsung hero. Heâ€s climbed the leverage ladder this October, and heâ€ll also be utilized.

Blue Jays: Brendon Little and Seranthony Domínguez allowed the big blows in the crushing Game 5 loss, but the Blue Jays will surely need them again. Jeff Hoffman will be fresh, too, along with Louis Varland, but perhaps John Schneider asks for more from someone like Braydon Fisher, the rookie whoâ€s come out of nowhere to become a core piece of this bullpen in 2025. If Yesavage has a shorter outing, both Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer will be available for multiple innings out of the bullpen.

Any injuries of note?
Mariners: Woo, at long last, made his first appearance of these playoffs when pitching the sixth and seventh innings in Game 5, when he surrendered a double from Alejandro Kirk on his very first pitch then a game-tying RBI single to Ernie Clement two batters later. Hitting Springer with a 95.6 mph fastball also highlighted some of the struggles he’s had with glove-side command. While the Mariners were excited to get their best starter in the regular season back out there, because heâ€s been built up as a starter and had such a long layoff, it remains unclear what his availability would be for the rest of this ALCS.

Blue Jays: Bo Bichette was left off the Blue Jays†ALCS roster as he continues to rehab from his left knee sprain, and his status will remain a daily story in Toronto as he pushes to return in time for a potential World Series. Given that this is also the final year of Bichetteâ€s deal in Toronto, the only organization he has known, the stakes are sky high.

Who is hot and who is not?
Mariners: Raleigh is having an epic October, now with four homers to tie Jay Buhner (1995) for the second-most in a single postseason in franchise history (behind Ken Griffey Jr.’s six in ’95). He also has two doubles, six singles and seven walks, good for a 1.127 OPS in 39 at-bats. He now returns to the venue where heâ€s hit better than anywhere. Arozarena, meanwhile, has struggled to the point that Wilson dropped him out of the leadoff spot; heâ€s now hitting .150 in 40 playoff at-bats.

Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is still on fire. The Mariners chose to intentionally walk him twice in Game 5 after he scorched a double into the left-center gap and we could see more of that in Game 6. Clement is still one of the hottest players in the postseason, too, batting .429 while Lukes (.333) continues to serve as a great No. 2 hitter between Springer and Guerrero. It feels like Kirkâ€s bat is waking up, too, with a home run in Seattle and a hard double in Game 5. Outside of Guerrero, the Blue Jays need someone to step up and help lift this offense.

Anything else fans might want to know?
Mariners

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SEATTLE – Four games into this American League Championship Series battle between the Blue Jays and Mariners, and nothing separates these two clubs – except another cross-country flight on deck, with nothing short of a pennant on the line.

With the ALCS even at two games apiece, Seattle and Toronto will enter Friday’s Game 5 locked into a best-of-three for a trip to the World Series, with Bryce Miller taking on Kevin Gausman in a matchup of right-handers.

“Weâ€ll come back ready to go,†said Seattle catcher Cal Raleigh. “Bryce obviously threw a great first game, so weâ€ll have to come up with a good game plan tomorrow to keep them at bay and put a few runs on the board.â€

It has been a showdown defined thus far by road dominance: The Blue Jays have outscored the Mariners 21-6 in the two games at T-Mobile Park. Thatâ€s a flip from how the first pair of contests went at Rogers Centre, where Seattle outscored Toronto, 13-4.

“We didn’t get too high, we didn’t get too low,†said the Blue Jays†Isiah Kiner-Falefa. “The coaches did a great job all around of not panicking, kind of keeping the mood light. Normally, you go down 2-0 and you’re doing PFPs.

“We kind of kept our normal routine, and guys were able to kind of just slow the game down. We were able to come up big here in these last two games. Hopefully, we can keep going.â€

Torontoâ€s resounding Game 4 victory restored home-field advantage for the stretch run, but first comes one more clash in the Pacific Northwest before the scene shifts back to Canada, where this seesaw showdown will be decided.

“Obviously we wanted to get a couple wins here in the series at home,†Seattle manager Dan Wilson said. “We haven’t been able to do that. But tomorrow we have a chance to bounce back, and that’s where our focus is going forward.â€

When is the game and how can I watch it?
First pitch is scheduled for 6:08 p.m. ET (3:08 p.m. PT) on Friday at T-Mobile Park and can be seen in the United States on FS1.

Blue Jays fans in Canada can tune in via Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the broadcast with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio call with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Blue Jays: Kevin Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA) has pitched Game 1 in both the AL Division Series against the Yankees and this ALCS, but the stage just keeps getting bigger. His outings have been eerily similar, both at 5 2/3 innings with 75 pitches in one and 76 in the other, so itâ€s clear where the Blue Jays want to keep Gausmanâ€s workload. Gausman is Torontoâ€s ace for a reason, but given that he relies so heavily on his fastball and splitter combo, it will be interesting to see how the Mariners handle that mix after seeing him in Game 1.

Mariners: Bryce Miller (1-0, 2.61 ERA in these playoffs) will face a Game 1 rematch vs. Gausman, in which he outlasted the splitter specialist by overcoming a leadoff homer to George Springer on his very first pitch to hold the Blue Jays 1-for-19 the rest of the way. Miller wound up clearing six brilliant innings in his first career start on short rest, though heâ€ll be on standard rest in Game 5. However, Miller noted that this will be his first time facing the same team in a five-day span since he was in the Minors, where a standard head-to-head series lasts a full week of six games.

What might the starting lineups look like?
Blue Jays: With Anthony Santander now done after being removed from the ALCS roster with an injury, the Blue Jays could roll out the same lineup they did for Game 4. Kiner-Falefa felt like a surprising addition at the time, but he came up with two big hits and has the full trust of manager John Schneider. Joey Loperfido would then take over as the top lefty bat option on the bench, with Davis Schneider available from the right side and Myles Straw as the pinch-runner.

Mariners: Wilson made his first notable tweak to the starting nine in these playoffs in Game 4, opting for Dominic Canzone in right field (over Victor Robles), Jorge Polanco at designated hitter (where Canzone had been starting vs. righties) and switch-hitter Leo Rivas at second base (where Polanco had been playing). Polanco remained at cleanup, Canzone at No. 7 and Rivas was added at No. 9, with J.P. Crawford moving up a spot to No. 8. It didnâ€t necessarily correlate to much, as the Mariners mustered the same number of hits as walks (five). But Wilson has been prone to consistency, so itâ€s possible he sticks with it against another righty.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Blue Jays: The most interesting wrinkle will be the potential availability of Trey Yesavage out of the bullpen on short rest, but since the Blue Jays evened up the series and are no longer fighting for their lives, it could make more sense to hold Yesavage for Game 6 at home. Behind Gausman, the Blue Jays should once again have everyone available, including back-end arms Louis Varland, Seranthony Domínguez and Jeff Hoffman. If any length is needed, Chris Bassitt and Eric Lauer are available.

Mariners: Wilson said that he intended to be aggressive with the bullpen in Game 4, given that he didnâ€t turn to his three highest-leverage arms (Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier) in Games 2 or 3. And that was a big factor in why he went to Speier in place of Luis Castillo with just one out in the third on Thursday. Seattle was already trailing and unable to recover, which led Wilson to using low-leverage options Carlos Vargas and Emerson Hancock at the end. Muñoz, who hasnâ€t pitched since Game 1, will almost certainly be used in Game 5 now that the stakes are even higher. But the biggest question mark is on Bryan Woo, who spent each of the past two games in the home bullpen and is expected to pitch in relief as soon as Friday (more below).

Any injuries of note?
Blue Jays: Bo Bichette was left off the Blue Jays†ALCS roster as he continues to rehab from his left knee sprain, and his status will remain a daily story in Toronto as he pushes to return in time for a potential World Series. Given that this is also the final year of Bichetteâ€s deal in Toronto, the only organization he has known, the stakes are sky high.

Santander was removed from the Blue Jays†ALCS roster prior to Game 4 with a back injury, so he will no longer be eligible for the World Series, and his 2025 season is over.

Mariners: The Mariners made the decision to move Woo (pectoral inflammation) to the bullpen once the series shifted to Seattle, and given that there are only three games left at most and Woo hasnâ€t pitched since exiting a Sept. 19 start in Houston, Seattle probably can spend him only once. So now the question becomes where to do so. If Miller is on the ropes early, like Castillo in Game 4, Woo could be a piggyback option. Itâ€s also likely that the Mariners would want to deploy Woo for a clean inning, since he hasnâ€t done this since his college days at Cal Poly, where he made 25 of his 31 career appearances as a reliever but not since 2019-21.

Who is hot and who is not?
Blue Jays: Guerrero might be the hottest hitter in baseball right now. He launched his fifth home run in eight postseason games Thursday and is officially entering Aaron Judge territory when it comes to how opposing teams need to handle him. Donâ€t sleep on Clement, either. The utilityman is batting .452 and has been crucial to extending this Blue Jays†lineup. Springer seems to be yanking a line drive into left field every time he swings the bat, too, while Giménez has now homered in back-to-back games. One through nine, this lineup looks like it did in the ALDS again, which is a very scary thing for the Mariners.

Mariners: After outscoring the Blue Jays, 13-4, in Toronto, the Mariners†bats have gone cold since the series shifted to T-Mobile Park, going 13-for-63 (.206) with a .688 OPS and six runs scored. Leadoff man Arozarena has experienced the most glaring troubles, as heâ€s now 2-for-15 in this ALCS and hitting .158 overall this postseason. Naylor, meanwhile, will look to stay hot, as heâ€s 6-for-14 in this series with two homers, including a second-inning blast in Game 4 that gave the Mariners an early lead.

Anything else fans might want to know?
Blue Jays:

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SEATTLE — The Mariners are heading home on the cusp of history, while the Blue Jays know they must take care of business on the road in order to force this American League Championship Series back to Canada.

With consecutive road wins to open the ALCS, Seattle has grabbed control of this October showdown as it returns to one of baseballâ€s most electric atmospheres at T-Mobile Park, where crowds roared through every pitch of the ALDS against the Tigers.

“I expect a lot of noise from the fans,†said Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco. “I know theyâ€re going to show up. I know theyâ€re going to bring a lot of energy for us. I know theyâ€re going to support us. Weâ€re just going to go there and keep competing, keep competing.â€

Just two wins away from the first World Series appearance in franchise history, the Mariners expect to be welcomed back by a city now swelling with belief. Do they have what it takes to finish the job?

“We know we have work to do,†said Seattle manager Dan Wilson. “These series take on a life of [their] own. We’ve got plenty of work to do and weâ€ve got to stay focused on where we’re headed. We know our fans will help us get there.â€

Their home-field advantage erased, the Blue Jays can take solace in the fact that they wonâ€t be making the trip alone. There promises to be support from the north in the form of the “Canadian Invasion,†fan groups who travel in the thousands whenever the Blue Jays visit.

But they canâ€t count on that contingent alone to flip the script — they need the power hitting and pitching depth that defined their season to reappear before itâ€s too late.

“The difference in these first two is that slug hasnâ€t been there for us; slug has been there for them,†said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. “You never know when itâ€s going to turn. … Hopefully, the luck turns and hopefully the slug turns up.â€

When is the game and how can I watch it?

First pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET (5:08 p.m. PT) on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park and can be seen in the United States on FS1.

Blue Jays fans in Canada can tune in via Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ for the broadcast with Buck Martinez, Dan Shulman and Hazel Mae, or listen to the radio call with Ben Shulman and Chris Leroux on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?

Blue Jays: Shane Bieber (4-2, 3.57 ERA) didnâ€t look sharp in the ALDS against the Yankees, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits over 2 2/3 innings in the Blue Jays†lone loss of that series. These are the starts the Blue Jays brought the former Cy Young Award winner to Toronto to make, though, and heâ€s got another shot in Game 3. Just like his start against the Yankees, this is the Blue Jays†first road game of the series in whatâ€s certain to be a loud, intimidating environment.

Down the stretch, after Bieber returned from the home stretch of his Tommy John rehab, he looked excellent. Heâ€s even flashed velocities slightly above his averages before the surgery and his pinpoint control came back quickly, but the Mariners are already showing their combination of patience and power. In what could be Bieberâ€s final start before free agency unless the Blue Jays extend this series, the stakes couldnâ€t be higher for him.

Mariners: RHP George Kirby (0-0, 2.70 ERA in these playoffs) will get the call on regular rest after twirling five-plus brilliant innings in his most recent outing in ALDS Game 5 on Friday — the 15-inning marathon win vs. the Tigers. Kirby was relieved after just 66 pitches in a matchup-dictated decision once lefty slugger Kerry Carpenter came up for the third time, but he went toe-to-toe with Tarik Skubal until that point. Kirby also started ALDS Game 1, with his lone blemish being a two-run homer to Carpenter that proved decisive in a 3-2 loss.

Kirby is no stranger to the Blue Jays, either, though the last time he faced them in October was under drastically different circumstances — when he closed out the 2022 AL Wild Card Series with his first and only career save. He was a rookie back then, before he blossomed into a 2023 All-Star, but was already on his way to being one of the sportâ€s elite strike-throwers.

Kirby was sidelined for two months with shoulder inflammation before making his 2025 debut on May 22. Heâ€s experienced some expected hiccups along the way, but appears to be peaking at the right time.

What are the starting lineups?

Blue Jays: Going up against another right-hander, the Blue Jays should roll out a similar lineup to what weâ€ve seen through the postseason. Anthony Santander was a late scratch in Game 2 with lower back tightness, but letâ€s work with the likelihood he will be back in the lineup for Game 3:

Mariners: Wilson regularly deployed a more consistent daily lineup throughout the regular season, and that was particularly true once the entire roster came together after the Trade Deadline. And that has remained in the playoffs, with the only factors changing based on the opposing pitcherâ€s handedness. For Game 3, he rolled out a lineup identical to what he used in the ALDS against Detroitâ€s right-handed starters.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Blue Jays: Louis Varland has appeared in all six postseason games, so if anyone in this bullpen is feeling the weight of the postseason, itâ€s him. The Blue Jays should still have all of their back-end arms available, though. Starter Chris Bassitt threw 1 2/3 innings in Game 2 to help lessen the burden on those arms, such as Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Domínguez and Yariel Rodriguez. After finishing the season strong, though, and nailing a Game 4 bullpen game against the Yankees, the Blue Jays†bullpen is faltering at the wrong time against the Mariners.

Mariners: Thanks to a runaway win in ALCS Game 2, Wilson didnâ€t have to use his three highest-leverage arms (Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier), and that was even after Logan Gilbert lasted only three innings. It sets them up nicely, especially with Tuesdayâ€s off-day to build in more rest. That said, their No. 4 on the leverage depth chart, Eduard Bazardo, threw 30 high-stress pitches over two innings on Monday, and overall, has thrown eight in six appearances. Getting some length from Kirby then bridging to the other three guys would be the ideal scenario.

Blue Jays: Bo Bichette was left off the Blue Jays†ALCS roster as he continues to rehab from his left knee sprain and his status will remain a daily story in Toronto as he pushes to return in time for a potential World Series. Given that this is also the final year of Bichetteâ€s deal in Toronto, the only organization heâ€s known, the stakes are sky high.

Nathan Lukes left Game 1 after fouling a ball off his right knee, but was right back in the lineup for Game 2 after tests came back negative. Anthony Santander is the latest Blue Jays hitter to be banged up, though, and was a late scratch Monday, just hours before Game 2 with lower back tightness. We should know more about his Game 3 status when John Schneider meets with the media Tuesday in Seattle.

Ty France is the only other relevant injury on the Blue Jays. France ended the season on the IL with an oblique injury, but heâ€s recovered by now and it was a baseball decision to leave him off the ALCS roster.

Mariners: Bryan Woo (pectoral inflammation) came out of a live batting practice on Monday reporting “all positives,†which tentatively has him in line for ALCS Game 5 on Friday, sources with knowledge of the situation told MLB.com’s Daniel Kramer. Yet those plans are written in pencil and will hinge on how he bounces back in the coming days and, even in a best-case scenario, would feature an abbreviated workload. If this were the regular season, Woo would be gearing up for a Minor League rehab assignment to build volume, but thatâ€s obviously not an option. Yet, the Mariners still want to ensure that the 2025 All-Star is in position to give them the best chance to win when he does indeed return, having not pitched since exiting a Sept. 19 start in Houston with the issue.

Who is hot and who is not?

Blue Jays: George Springer homered in Game 1 and ripped a double to the wall in Game 2, but beyond the veteran and Lukes — who went 3-for-4 Monday — the Blue Jays†lineup is cold. Theyâ€re still waiting on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to recapture the magic of his ALDS, when he hit three home runs and drove in nine against the Yankees. The Blue Jays could really use some contributions from Addison Barger, whose bat has been quiet, or Alejandro Kirk, who has put together some better at-bats lately.

Mariners: Jorge Polancoâ€s teammates joked that theyâ€ve begun calling him “George Bonds†as a moniker to his first name in English with a nod to the all-time home run king, Barry Bonds. But thatâ€s the kind of run that the slugging second baseman has been on in October, having been responsible for Seattleâ€s go-ahead RBI in each of their past three games … Cal Raleigh was hitless in two at-bats on Monday but still drew two walks and scored two runs, underscoring the threat he brings at the plate … As for whoâ€s not, Victor Robles is just 3-for-22 (.136) this postseason, while leadoff man Randy Arozarena is 5-for-31 (.161).

Anything else fans might want to know?

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