Blue Jays GDB – ALCS Game 1: Toronto host Mariners for Game 1 of ALCS
Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2025, 17:30 EDTUpdated: Oct 12, 2025, 17:10 EDT
For the first time since 2016, the Toronto Blue Jays are in the American League Championship Series.
After punching their ticket to the ALCS with a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees on Wednesday, the Jays had to wait and see what happened between the Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers on Friday.
That game ended up going 15 innings, with the Mariners using three of their five starters, but it worked in the end as the Mariners walked it off. That said, there is a lasting impact because of Friday’s game, as the Mariners’ starter is Bryce Miller, who has had just three days’ rest.
Starting for the Blue Jays is Kevin Gausman, who pitched against the Mariners once this season. That game on May 9 saw him go five and one-third innings, giving up three earned runs. Gausman has also started against the Mariners in a postseason game, all the way back in 2022 in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series. In his most recent start in Game 1 against the Yankees, Gausman threw five and two-thirds innings, giving up one earned run and striking out three.
Born in the Seattle area, Addison Barger has torched the Mariners this season. In 22 plate appearances against the American League West team, Barger is slashing .350/.409/.700, with his 1.109 OPS being his fifth-highest against any team in the league this season. In his most recent game against the Yankees on Wednesday, Barger went 3-5 with a double and two singles. It looks as if he’s getting back to what made him successful.
With a right-handed pitcher on the mound, Barger bats fourth. Barger makes up one of four left-handed batters in the lineup, with Nathan Lukes batting second, Daulton Varsho batting sixth, and Andrés Giménez batting ninth. Anthony Santander is their lone switch-hitter in the lineup, and he is batting eighth.
Leading off for the Blue Jays is George Springer, with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. batting third. Alejandro Kirk bats fifth, and Ernie Clement bats seventh after a great series against the Yankees.
Let’s set up Sunday evening’s series opener!
Location: Toronto
First Pitch: 8:03 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, Fox, SN590
Starting Pitchers
Toronto Blue Jays – Kevin Gausman: 10-11 record, 3.59 ERA, 193 IP, 189 SO, 50 BB
Seattle Mariners – Bryce Miller: 4-6 record, 5.68 ERA, 90.1 IP, 74 SO, 34 BB
Lineups:
Blue Jays:
- George Springer – DH
- Nathan Lukes – RF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Addison Barger – 3B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Ernie Clement – 2B
- Anthony Santander -LF
- Andrés Giménez – SS
Mariners:
- Randy Arozarena – LF
- Cal Raleigh – C
- Julio Rodríguez – CF
- Jorge Polanco – 2B
- Josh Naylor – 1B
- Eugenio Suárez – 3B
- Dominic Canzone – DH
- Victor Robles – RF
- J.P. Crawford – SS
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.