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Series Preview: Blue Jays host Mariners for first time since George Springer’s ALCS home run
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Photo credit: © Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Aug 28, 2026, 14:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 28, 2026, 17:42 EDT
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Memories of the 2025 Toronto Blue Jays will live forever.
It’s nearly been a year after that devastating Game 7 loss in the World Series, yet things are still raw. It was a run that should’ve ended in a World Series if just one thing went their way in the final three innings.
One of many special memories of the World Series run was George Springer’s Game 7 go-ahead blast in the American League Championship Series against the Seattle Mariners. For the first time since that home run, the Mariners return to Canada, and both teams are in dire need of a series victory.
Now in late August, the Blue Jays’ hopes of making the playoffs, let alone making the World Series, are slim. As it stands, they sit three and a half games back of the final wild card while playing some of their worst baseball this season.
Over their last seven games, the Blue Jays are 10-74 with runners in scoring position, or a .135 batting average. In all but one game, they’ve gone 1-x, and were just 3-22 against the Kansas City Royals. Yikes. With their postseason hopes slipping away, the Blue Jays need to win this series.

Examining the Seattle Mariners

Things haven’t gone the Seattle Mariners’ way either as they enter the series with a 64-70 record, four games back of the final wild card spot. Diving a bit deeper into the stats, the numbers aren’t even all that bad.
Their offence has been average, as they are collective slashing .228/.308/.375, good for a 100 wRC+. That sits in the middle of the pack, though they have the seventh-highest strikeout rate in Major League Baseball. The Mariners have also hit 155 home runs, tied for 14th in MLB.
Unsurprisingly, the Mariners’ young rotation has been a bright spot, as their rotation’s 3.97 ERA ranks 10th, while their 3.86 FIP ranks eighth. This season, the Mariners’ rotation has a 23.1 K%, ranking 10th, while also posting the second-lowest BB% of 6.1%. The rotation has some issues with the long-ball though, as they’ve given up 107, fourth-most in MLB.
As for their bullpen, it isn’t as good as the rotation, but it has given up just 49 home runs, tied for fourth-fewest. Overall, the Mariners’ bullpen ERA of 4.33 is the 10th-highest, but they are in the middle of the pack when it comes to FIP.

One player to watch: Randy Arozarena

The Blue Jays shut Randy Arozarena down in the 2025 ALCS, and will need to do so again this series. Over the seven games, the outfielder slashed just .200/.33/.320 with a home run in 30 plate appearances.
That performance must’ve set him off, as the 31-year-old is slashing .272/.369/.460 with 20 home runs in 544 plate appearances. His 143 wRC+ not just the best on the Mariners, but is pacing to be the best mark of his career, as is his 3.8 fWAR.
As a former Tampa Bay Ray, Arozarena has signficant experience against the Blue Jays, hitting seven home runs in 267 regular season plate appearances. He’s slashing .265/.348/.436 in that span.

Quick Hits

  • Cal Raleigh had a historic season in 2025, batting .247/.359/.589 with 60 home runs in 705 plate appearances for a 161 wRC+. This season, he batting just .167/.284/.342 with 18 home runs in 416 plate appearances, a career-worst 85 wRC+. That is by far the biggest reason why the Mariners are in the spot they are in.
  • Dominic Canzone is the Mariners’ next best hitter, batting .256/.332/.477 with 19 home runs in 407 plate appearances for a 131 wRC+. Julio Rodríguez, Luke Raley, Josh Naylor, Cole Young, and J.P. Crawford all have double-digit long-balls as well.
  • The Blue Jays face Emerson Hancock on Friday. He has been one of their better starters, authoring a 3.37 ERA and 3.82 FIP in 133.2 innings of work this season. Kade Anderson, while not announced, is expected to start on Saturday, while Sunday’s starter is yet to be determined.
  • As for the Blue Jays, their three starters this series are Dylan Cease, José Soriano, and Max Scherzer. The latter made a start against the Mariners in the ALCS, going five and two-thirds innings with two earned runs allowed, all while famously yelling at John Schneider.

Probable pitchers

Friday: Dylan Cease/Emerson Hancock
Saturday: José Soriano/TBD
Sunday: Max Scherzer/TBD

Game times

Friday: 7:15 PM ET
Saturday: 3:07 PM ET
Sunday: 1:37 PM ET
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, DFOEdmonton, and DFOCalgary. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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