Blue Jays GDB – ALCS Game 5: Jays could return home with series lead
Photo credit: © Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2025, 15:30 EDT
After Thursday’s 8-2 win, the Toronto Blue Jays are in a best-of-three against the Seattle Mariners.
The away team in the American League Championship Series has won all four games, with the Mariners winning the first two and the Jays winning the last two. It appears the offence has come around, scoring 21 runs in Seattle, giving up just six runs. A win on Friday would give the Blue Jays two opportunities to win in Toronto.
The pitching matchup is a rematch of Game 1. Kevin Gausman gets the ball for the Blue Jays, and he finished with five and two-thirds innings pitched with two earned runs in Game 1. There is an argument to be made that he was pulled far too early, as he walked Julio Rodríguez and got the hook, with Rodríguez eventually coming in to score.
Starting for the Mariners is Bryce Miller. The 27-year-old was on three days’ rest coming into Game 1, yet went six strong innings, giving up just one earned run. After threatening for a big first inning, the Jays got just two base runners after the first. He’s been the only Mariners’ starter with any type of success against the Blue Jays this postseason.
Sticking to the Mariners, they made a change in their lineup. Randy Arozarena had led off the first four games, but he drops down to fifth in the batting order. Rodríguez moves up from third, while Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor move up a spot.
The Blue Jays have the same lineup as Thursday, including Isiah Kiner-Falefa. In his career against Miller, he’s 1-3 with a two-run RBI double, which came back in 2023. He’s batting eighth, behind Addison Barger and ahead of Andrés Giménez. In his last two games, Giménez has two separate two-run home runs in the top of the third and has driven in six. He’s batting .310 this postseason.
As for the top of the lineup, it’s who you’d expect. George Springer leads off, followed by Nathan Lukes and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Alejandro Kirk bats cleanup, followed by Daulton Varsho and Ernie Clement, the latter is batting .452 this postseason.
Let’s set up Friday evening’s game!
Location: Seattle
First Pitch: 6:08 PM ET
Watch/Listen: Sportsnet, Fox Sports 1, 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 – LF
- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
- Alejandro Kirk – C
- Daulton Varsho – CF
- Ernie Clement – 3B
- Addison Barger – RF
- Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 2B
- Andrés Giménez – SS
Mariners:
- Julio Rodríguez – CF
- Cal Raleigh – C
- Jorge Polanco – DH
- Josh Naylor – 1B
- Randy Arozarena – LF
- Eugenio Suárez – 3B
- J.P. Crawford – SS
- Dominic Canzone – RF
- Leo Rivas – 2B
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.