The Toronto Blue Jays are entering must-win territory.

They dropped the first two games of the American League Championship Series to the Seattle Mariners, putting them in a hole. Coming back from a 2-0 series deficit is possible, having been done 45 times in MLB history. A team down 3-0 has only come back once, the 2004 Boston Red Sox.

The good news is that the Blue Jays have their big trade deadline acquisition, Shane Bieber, on the mound. His last time out in Game 3 of the American League Divisional Series didn’t go great, giving up three runs (two earned) in two and two-thirds innings. In what could be his last start as a Blue Jay, Bieber needs to turn back time and pitch like the American League Cy Young winner he once was.

Starting for the Mariners is George Kirby, the lone pitcher in the Mariners’ rotation who didn’t make a start against the Blue Jays in the regular season. Kirby has made one postseason appearance against the Jays, all the way back in 2022, when he picked up the save in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series. In the regular season, Kirby has a 6.28 ERA, but it’s worth noting that Bryce Miller had a 6.97 ERA against the Jays in the regular season, and Logan Gilbert had a 5.24 ERA against the Jays.

Anthony Santander was scratched shortly before the start of Game 2. He draws back into the lineup and moves up to the cleanup spot. Addison Barger drops to seventh, but he found success the last time the Blue Jays were in Seattle. George Springer leads off, Nathan Lukes bats second, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. bats third, Alejandro Kirk bats fifth, Daulton Varsho bats sixth, Ernie Clement bats eighth, and Andrés Giménez bats ninth.

Let’s set up Wednesday’s pivotal Game 3.

Toronto Blue Jays – Shane Bieber: 4-2 record, 3.57 ERA, 40.1 IP, 37 SO, 7 BB

Seattle Mariners – George Kirby: 10-8 record, 4.21 ERA, 126 IP, 137 SO, 29 BB