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Oct 19, 2025, 10:18 PM ET

CHICAGO — First-year Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville returned to the United Center on Sunday night for the first time since he and two other former Chicago Blackhawks executives were banned from the NHL in October 2021 for their mishandling of a sexual assault allegation by a former player in 2010.

Quenneville, 67, has the Ducks off to a 2-2-1 start almost four years after he was forced to resign as coach of the Florida Panthers. He was banned from the NHL for nearly three years.

“I’m grateful to be back in the game,” Quenneville said before Chicago’s 2-1 win on Ryan Donato’s overtime goal. “I’m excited about being back in here in Chicago.”

It has been a long road for Quenneville, the second-winningest coach in NHL history. His 971 career victories entering Sunday trail only Scotty Bowman’s 1,244.

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An independent investigation commissioned by the Blackhawks led to Quenneville stepping down from the Panthers in October 2021. The investigation concluded the team mishandled allegations raised by 2008 first-round draft pick Kyle Beach against video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s first Stanley Cup run.

Former Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and assistant GM Al MacIsaac also resigned and were prohibited from working in the NHL.

They were reinstated by the league in July 2024. Bowman became the Edmonton Oilers’ general manager three weeks later. The Ducks signed Quenneville in May to replace Greg Cronin.

Quenneville has spent parts of 25 NHL seasons behind the benches of St. Louis, Colorado, Chicago and Florida. He guided the Blackhawks for more than 10 years and led them to championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015.

The Blackhawks fired Quenneville in November 2018 after a 6-6-3 start. He joined the Panthers for the 2019-20 season.

Quenneville returned to the United Center for the first time with Florida in January 2020 and received a video tribute from the Blackhawks and a roaring ovation from fans. He was behind the Panthers’ bench in the arena four times during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, but no fans were present.

Quenneville seemed a little uncertain about how he might be received by United Center fans this time.

“The memories we had were all very positive here,” he said. “I’m just happy to be back in that building and hear the crowd being excited, and the crowds look like they’ve been good so far this year.”

When asked if he expected acknowledgment from fans, Quenneville responded with his signature, “We’ll see.”

The reaction turned out to be muted and mixed.

Public address announcer Gene Honda called Quenneville’s name in a routine introduction as the visiting team coach about 10 minutes before the opening faceoff. A handful of fans cheered and about the same number booed, with only about half of the United Center’s 19,717 seats occupied.

The Ducks conducted background checks and spoke with Beach before hiring Quenneville, who said he has accepted responsibility for his role in failing to properly address the allegations and has engaged in educational activities to deepen his understanding of sexual assault scenarios.

“Right from the day that we joined the Ducks, it’s been a lot of positivity,” Quenneville said. “Just getting around people that are in the game, being around the organization, having a young team, kind of reminds me of the team when we were here.”

With Anaheim, Quenneville took over a team with the NHL’s third-longest active playoff drought. The Ducks finished sixth in the Pacific Division last season at 35-37-10 after being in the bottom two for the previous four years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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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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Referee, Jesus Gil Manzano, shows a red card to Hansi Flick, Head Coach of FC Barcelona, during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Girona FC (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Substitute Ronald Araújo snatched Barcelona a 2-1 victory over Girona in stoppage time in La Liga on Saturday and ended a mini losing streak before the clasico at Real Madrid next week.The central defender made the move of a striker when he slid in front of his marker as they raced to the near post and skilfully redirected a low pass from Frenkie de Jong and ignited the home crowd.Araújo’s last-gasp goal came moments after Barcelona coach Hansi Flick was sent off with two quick yellow cards apparently for complaining that the referee had not added more than four minutes of injury time.The sending off means Flick won’t be on the sideline for the first clasico of the season.Before the international break, Barcelona lost to Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 in the Champions League and was stunned at Sevilla 4-1 in La Liga.Pedri González gave Barcelona the lead with an exquisite goal in the 13th, sliding an angled ball back across the area and inside the near post without looking at the target.But Barcelona’s control collapsed after Axel Witsel equalized seven minutes later with an acrobatic bicycle kick to whip a loose high ball off the turf and past Wojciech Szczesny.Only Szczesny’s saves and some poor marksmanship by Girona kept the visitors from taking the lead before halftime after it was able to mount repeated counterattacks after Barcelona lost possession.Girona then needed goalie Paulo Gazzaniga to turn back shots by Fermín López and Marcus Rashord before Araújo´s clinched the result.With Barcelona missing strikers Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres and playmaker Dani Olmo to injury, Flick gave a La Liga debut to 17-year-old forward Toni Fernández. He was substituted for Fermín at halftime.Barcelona moved into the league lead with a one-point advantage over Madrid before it plays Getafe on Sunday.

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Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t afraid of embracing a villain persona. Especially when they have a fully operational Death Star hitting and pitching for them.

As the Dodgers celebrated a second straight National League title and a chance to become MLB’s first back-to-back champions in 25 years, their manager took the microphone and executed a perfect heel turn:

“Before this season started, they said, ‘The Dodgers are ruining baseball.’ Let’s get four more wins and really ruin baseball!”

Roberts’ players approved of the statement, as did the fans at Dodger Stadium. The group will attempt to follow through on his threat against either the Seattle Mariners or the Toronto Blue Jays, with the Mariners holding a 3-2 ALCS advantage after Friday.

That’s the kind of confidence you get after a dominant sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, who posted the best record in MLB in the regular season (including a 6-0 record against the Dodgers). The L.A. rotation of Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow anchored those four wins with a combined 28 2/3 innings, 9 hits, 2 runs, 7 walks and 35 strikeouts.

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Of course, that quartet of pitchers also epitomize why so many opposing fans see the Dodgers as not just bad for their own team but also bad for baseball.

Are the Dodgers really bad for baseball?

The Dodgers and Brewers were perfectly set up as a clash of baseball archetypes. The Dodgers were the big, bad, large-market team with the most expensive roster in baseball, underwritten by an enormous local TV contract and Ohtani’s cultural power. The Brewers had a bottom-10 payroll in one of the league’s smallest markets, succeeding through shrewd decisions at the plate and in the front office.

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You already know which one won.

Even if you adjust Ohtani’s heavily deferred $700 million contract for inflation, that four-man Dodgers rotation collectively makes more than the entire Brewers $123 million roster. The smallest of those four contracts (Glasnow’s five-year, $137 million deal) would still obliterate the Brewers’ largest contract ever for a pitcher (Matt Garza, four years and $50 million).

Brewers manager Pat Murphy, fond of calling his very talented roster the “Average Joes,” leaned into that dichotomy throughout the series, at one point claiming that some Dodgers players couldn’t name more than eight players on his roster. It possibly became a self-fulfilling prophecy, as the Dodgers absolutely looked and acted like the more talented team.

[Get more L.A. news: Dodgers team feed]

Back-to-back Dodgers titles would mean money works, even if plenty of other high-spending teams — the Dodgers included — have struggled to dominate like what L.A. is doing now. The New York Mets, MLB’s second-largest payroll, failed to make the postseason. The New York Yankees, with the third-largest payroll, have won only one title since 2000 and crashed out hard in the ALDS.

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It’s funny to think that the Dodgers were quite literally bankrupt 15 years ago, and then they landed with a dream ownership group, who hired the right people and signed the right Japanese unicorn. Until 2024, it was easy to disregard them. Their money had bought them only one World Series title, the often-mocked 2020 title won amid the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, it’s not so easy.

The Dodgers look unbeatable. It might become a self-fulfilling prophecy. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

(Mary DeCicco via Getty Images)

Will the Dodgers ruin baseball with another title? That probably depends on your definition of “ruin.” Baseball itself would probably see higher ratings and general interest with a true juggernaut capturing headlines, as is true for pretty much every other major league over the past half-century. Last year’s World Series between L.A. and New York saw a seven-year high in ratings and drew more viewers in Japan than the NBA Finals did in the U.S.

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However, the Dodgers putting it all together is very bad news for your team if you’re not a Dodgers fan. Rooting for a team is hard enough when it theoretically has a 1-in-30 chance of winning the championship. It’s even harder when you look over and see a team, particularly a rich one, seemingly ready to gobble up half the titles of the next decade. It’s more a question of fairness than one about the fate of the game, though those debates might become one and the same during the next CBA negotiations, in which MLB is already pushing for a salary cap.

There is a way to credit the Dodgers for what they have done — what Ohtani has done in particular — while conceding that, yes, Milwaukee was facing an uphill battle because of all that expensive talent. The same will be true in the World Series if the Mariners finish off the Blue Jays, who had a top-10 payroll this year.

For now, though, the Dodgers are just going to have fun with their critics. That’s what villains do.

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SEATTLE – For a sprint like that, Alejandro Kirk needed a cooling-off period. Good thing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grabbed a towel in the dugout to fan the man who had, at the time, scored the go-ahead run, though the Blue Jays wound up losing 6-2 in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on Friday at T-Mobile Park.

Facing Seattleâ€s Bryan Woo out of the bullpen for the first time this series as the All-Star starter returns from a pectoral injury, Kirk led off the sixth inning with a sharp double to the right-center-field wall, pushing hard for second base as right fielder Dominic Canzone fielded the ball off the wall.

Canzone in right field, rather than elite-fielding outfielder Victor Robles, is important. Because two batters later, postseason revelation Ernie Clement lined a single in front of Canzone in right.

Kirk was off and running.

The husky All-Star catcher who steals strikes behind the plate and scorches the ball at the plate is, well, not known for his speed. His 24.3 feet/second sprint speed this year was in the second percentile of MLB baserunners. Kirk had been the runner on second when a single was hit 11 times this season, and he hadnâ€t scored once. The last time he had was back on Aug. 22, 2024, against the Angels.

Kirk was rounding third when Canzone fielded the ball in right field a Statcast-projected 205 feet from the plate. But third-base coach Carlos Febles waved Kirk home, likely knowing Canzoneâ€s poor fielding metrics. The throw was not close, bringing Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh way up the third-base line as Kirk crossed home plate.

For Kirk, it was a long run but an important one as the Blue Jays took the lead. For Clement, who advanced to second on the throw, it was redemption for his previous at-bat in the fourth inning, when he hit into a double play on a tapper in front of the plate, ending a bases-loaded Blue Jays threat.

But that would be all the Blue Jays managed, pushing them to the brink of elimination with the Mariners leading, 3-2, as the series shifts back to Toronto on Sunday. If the Blue Jays are going to force a Game 7, theyâ€ll need more savvy offensive plays like Kirk and Clement combined for in the sixth Friday.

Itâ€s a sprint to the finish now.

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The 2025 ALCS had been a series of road wins, with the Seattle Mariners sweeping the first two games in Toronto, while the Toronto Blue Jays clawed back their first win in Seattle. But then, in Game 4, the Blue Jays dominated on their own turf, tying the series up. Will the Blue Jays continue their winning streak in Game 5 tonight, or will the Mariners roar back on their home turf? We’ll find out when they play their next game this evening at T-Mobile Park.

Game 5 of the 2025 ALCS will air at 6:08 p.m. ET tonight on FS1. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Game 5 between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners.

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How to watch the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners Game 5:

Date:Friday, Oct. 17

Time: 6:08 p.m. ET/3:08 p.m. PT

TV channels: FS1

Streaming: DirecTV, Fubo, FoxONE and more

When is Game 5 between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners?

Game 5 of the ALCS between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners is Friday, Oct. 17, at 6:08 p.m. ET. The best-of-seven series is scheduled to run through Oct. 20 — if all seven games are necessary.

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners Game 4 channel:

Game 5 of the ALCS will be broadcast on FS1.

How to watch the Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners without cable:

You can stream FS1 on platforms like DirecTV and Fubo, and the games will be available on Fox’s new streaming platform, Fox One.

DirecTV Stream’s Choice tier gets you access to Fox and FS1, the channels you need to watch the MLB ALCS series, plus the CW, ABC, CBS, Fox, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, SEC Network and plenty more local regional sports networks.

DirecTV also offers unlimited Cloud DVR storage and access to ESPN+’s new streaming tier, ESPN unlimited.

The best part is, you can try all this out free for five days. So if you’re interested in a live TV streaming service but aren’t ready to commit, we recommend starting with DirecTV Stream.

Try free at DirecTV

Fubo TV gives you access to 100-plus live channels, including Fox and FS1, and many more so you can watch every ALCS game in one place. The cheapest plan starts at $85/month, making the live TV streaming service a significant investment. However, the inclusion of ESPN unlimited, a $30/month value, is a great deal if you watch sports year-round. Fubo subscribers also get access to ESPN unlimited, and unlimited cloud DVR storage.

Currently, the platform is offering a free trial, allowing you to explore everything it has to offer risk-free.

Try it free at Fubo

With a subscription to Fox One, you can tune in to all your favorite Fox channels like Fox News, Fox Sports, Fox Weather, FS1, FS2, Fox Business, Fox Deportes, Big Ten Network (B1G), and local Fox stations all in one place. That means you can watch every ALCS game in one place.

Fox One offers live programming, as well as shows and movies on demand. At launch, the base price for Fox One will cost $19.99 a month, or you can save with an annual subscription for $199.99. Fox Nation fans can even bundle it with Fox One for $24.99 a month, or opt for an annual subscription, which nets out to $19.99/month — that’s like getting a year of FOX Nation free.

You can also bundle Fox One with ESPN’s newly revamped streaming service for $39.99/month.

$19.99/month at Fox

2025 MLB ALCS Schedule:

All times Eastern

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Toronto Blue Jays vs. Seattle Mariners (series tied 2-2)

• Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 12, 8:03 p.m. (Fox)

• Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13, 5:03 p.m. (Fox/FS1)

• Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 8:08 p.m. (FS1)

• Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16, 8:33 p.m. (FS1)

• Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, Oct. 17, 6:08 p.m. (FS1)

• Game 6 (if necessary): Sunday, Oct. 19, 8:03 p.m. (FS1)

• Game 7 (if necessary): Monday, Oct. 20, 8:08 p.m. (Fox/FS1)

More ways to stream MLB ALCS Games:

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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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Jacob Fatu could miss an extended time off from in-ring competition due to an undisclosed injury.

After helping Sami Zayn defeat Solo Sikoa for the United States Championship, Jacob Fatu was absent from WWE television for a while. He returned on the September 26, 2025, episode of SmackDown, and entered into a rivalry with Drew McIntyre.

However, a recent report from Bodyslam.net suggests that The Samoan Werewolf is dealing with a “non-wrestling related injury,†which could keep him off television for an extended period of time. The report also stated that the injury could sideline him until 2026, but didnâ€t provide other details about the nature of his injury.

Fatu was scheduled to take on Drew McIntyre on the upcoming episode of SmackDown, but it appears WWE has to put that feud on hold until Fatu returns.

Jacob Fatu Was Rumored As One Name Planned For Survivor Series: War Games

Jacob Fatu was one of the names WWE reportedly had in mind to compete in this yearâ€s menâ€s WarGames match at Survivor Series.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE had planned for Jacob Fatu to team with Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Jey Uso, and either Jimmy Uso or LA Knight to take on Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Brock Lesnar, and Austin Theory inside WarGames.

However, two major injuries have changed the course of this match. Apart from Jacob Fatu getting sidelined, World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has also sustained a legitimate injury, which he reportedly endured during his match against Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel: Perth.

It will be interesting to see how WWE adjusts the storylines heading into Survivor Series: WarGames now that Jacob Fatu and Seth Rollins are out of the picture. Fans were also looking forward to seeing Fatuâ€s feud with Drew McIntyre, as it wouldâ€ve been The Samoan Werewolfâ€s first major storyline outside the Bloodline vortex.

Read More: New WWE Contracts Add Lengthy Non-Compete If Talent Is Fired With Cause — Report

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IND vs AUS:The India tour of Australia 2025 will get underway on October 19 in Perth. The Men In Blue will take on the hosts in a white-ball tour, comprising three ODIs and five T20Is.

All of these matches are important for different reasons. The ODI series signals the beginning of the Shubman Gill era as Indiaâ€s ODI skipper, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now officially in the final stages of their international careers, as both seniors will now have to merit their places in the ODI XI as batsmen as the selectors begin preparing for the 2027 World Cup.

The T20I series is part of Indiaâ€s preparation for next yearâ€s T20 World Cup, which is indeed only a few months away.

India have historically fared half-decently in Australia when it comes to ODI cricket.

What is Indiaâ€s record in ODI cricket in Australia?

India played their first ODI on Australian soil in 1980 and their last one in 2020. In 99 ODIs in Australia, across bilateral series and multi-nation tournaments, India have won 40 matches and lost 53 ODIs, with two matches being tied and four ending in no result.

What is Indiaâ€s record in ODI cricket in Australia against Australia?

Indiaâ€s record in ODIs against Australia in Australia is poor. Out of 54 IND vs AUS ODIs in Australia, the hosts won 38 games, while India clinched only 14 ODI wins.

India, meanwhile, have played only three bilateral series in Australia against Australia, of which they won once, in 2019, and lost twice, in 2016 and 2020.

IND vs AUS: What Happened Last Time India Played ODI Series In Australia?

The last time India played an ODI series in Australia was on the 2020/21 tour. The tour began with a three-ODI series in December 2020, which Australia won by 2-1.

The first two ODIs of that series were held in Sydney, where hometown boy Steve Smith slammed centuries in both matches, helping his side pile up totals beyond 375 in both games, which the hosts won by hefty margins.

India claimed victory in the third ODI, in Canberra, by 13 runs, with Hardik Pandya recording his highest ODI score of 92*, which came off only 76 balls. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja hit half-centuries in that game, while Shardul Thakur conjured a three-wicket haul.

The momentum of this win helped India substantially as they went on to win the T20I series that followed.

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NEW YORK — Sometimes, the problem that is out of your control presents more difficulties than the one you caused yourself.

In the case of the National Hockey League and the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, news that the arena in Milan may not be ready on time landed with a thud, just as the NHL held its Board of Governors meeting Wednesday in New York.

“We’ve had a concern for the last two years on the progress of the rink — both rinks, but mainly the main one,†said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Local organizers confirmed to the Associated Press on Wednesday that the primary test event scheduled for December at the 16,000-seat Santagiulia arena — the under-20 world championship from Dec. 8-14 — has been moved to a smaller rink, and that no new test event has been scheduled.

It seems possible at this point that the first hockey game played in the new Olympic arena will be the first game of the Olympic tournament.

“Itâ€s going to be very close to the start of the games, the timeline is very tight. But we knew that,†Milano-Cortina local organizing committee CEO Andrea Varnier said recently, according to the AP.

What will the NHL do if the arena isnâ€t ready on time?

“It’s the IOC’s responsibility,†said Bettman, referencing the International Olympic Committee. “We’re invited guests, but they know of our concerns and we’re expecting that they’re going to make good on all the promises to have a facility that is, from a competitive standpoint, first-class.â€

Does the NHL have a contingency plan?

“You’d better talk to the IOC,†directed Bettman. “It’s not our issue.â€

It will become the leagueâ€s issues, however, if the ice presents a safety concern. The NHL and the players†association will not be enamoured with placing the lionâ€s share of their best players at risk for an Olympic committee that can not provide a safe surface on which to play.

“If we have concerns, we’ll express them,†Bettman said on Wednesday in New York. “We are constrained in what we can and can’t do, request and demand, and if it reaches a certain point we’ll have to deal with it. But I’m not speculating, and we’ve been constantly assured by the IOC and the IIHF that it will be ok.

“Obviously the Players’ Association will share our concerns if there are any that are necessary.â€

The U-20 tournament has been moved to the Rho Fiera hockey arena, which was built inside a giant convention centre on Milanâ€s outskirts. That venue will host secondary matches during the games. When complete, the Santagiulia venue will be Italyâ€s largest indoor arena.

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The governors talked about the NHLâ€s international schedule, as part of a meeting that Bettman termed “nuts and bolts,†covering issues like hockey operations, an officiating update, a safety and security update and the topic of facilities standards.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said plans for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey are on schedule.

“We’ve had constructive conversations with the IIHF recently. We would hope that, if anything, we will be done by the end of the month, hopefully,†he said.

Daly said the NHL held workshops in Toronto and Zurich in recent weeks, and garnered much interest from potential host cities.

“We’re expecting 18 bids in in North America, 10 bids in in Europe, and we expect to be in a position to evaluate those bids at the end of this year, beginning of next year, and make decisions in February,†hew said.

Between the Olympics, a pending World Cup and the annual Global Series, the governors are in constant discussion over where the NHL should bring its game to next.

The fact that the gameâ€s best player and the NHLâ€s best European player — Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — have not played a game outside North America in their NHL career seems like something that should be remedied.

“It’s sort of at some point inevitable that that’ll happen,†said Edmonton Oilers President Jeff Jackson. “But nothing’s planned at this point.â€

Asked about that, Bettman had “Nothing Iâ€m prepared to announce.â€

“We’re focused on what we can be doing more outside of North America to continue to grow the game on a worldwide basis,†he said. “That’s becoming an increasing focus and priority for us, because we believe we’re the most international — certainly in our player composition — of the four major sports in North America.â€

No news is good news on the expansion and salary cap fronts.

Bettman claimed expansion was not even discussed on Wednesday, despite stated interest from two groups in Atlanta and bubbling interest for a return to Phoenix.

“There is, and continues to be, interest from lots of places. But none of it has reached the level that we need to focus on at this point,†he said.

Will that door open in time for the next meetings in December?

“It’s not a door that we open. If somebody knocks on the door, we’ll peek around to see who’s knocking and then decide what to do with it,†he said.

On the salary cap, Bettman would not stray from previously announced numbers of an increase to $104 million for next season, and $113.5 million in 2027-28.

“Thereâ€s no change. It is what weâ€ve already agreed to.â€

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