Mariners vs. Blue Jays live updates, score and analysis for pivotal ALCS Game 7

13 batters and six baserunners for Bieber. He doesn’t feel long for this game. Neither does Kirby, for that matter.

Neither pitcher is really fooling the opposition so far, generally.

A solo home run here in the third by Julio Rodríguez puts the Mariners back in front. It’s 2-1 Seattle.

Here’s a look:

Rodríguez, of course, helped the Mariners take an early lead by beginning the game with a double. He later scored on a Josh Naylor single.

The Mariners, with a win, would advance to their first World Series in franchise history.  

Seattle’s 7-8-9 hitters have been so bad this postseason no matter who they’ve put there. It’s three innings worth of easy outs every game.

Never mind. I should’ve better factored in who was coming up next. So should’ve Dan Wilson.

Well how about that? A bunt I agree with and it was done properly.

Seattle has two on, none out to begin the second.

The last time the Blue Jays were in the World Series, they played the Phillies, who had Darren Daulton as their catcher. Daulton was Gary Varsho’s teammate once upon a time, and Gary named his son Daulton after him. So, Daulton Varsho is your tie-in between this year’s Blue Jays and the last Blue Jays team to reach the World Series.

Kirby’s gonna have to get his fastball out of the middle the plate. Lucky to escape that inning with just one run allowed.

Daulton Varsho comes through with a two-out single to tie things up, 1-1. It wasn’t hit hard, but it was put in play and found a hole. There’s always something to be said for avoiding strikeouts with runners on base. 

Ernie Clement lined out to end the threat. 

We just saw two runs on four hits and a walk combined between the two offenses in the first inning. George Kirby of the Mariners threw 25 pitches while Shane Bieber threw 20 pitches. Both threw plenty of high-stress pitches. This one is gonna be fun.

I have no idea why Kirby threw Vlad Jr. a fastball in an 0-2 count. Guerrero singles and the Blue Jays have runners on first and second with one out.

George Kirby’s velocity is up 2-3 mph across the board in the first inning.

Can’t say I’ve ever seen a player try to break up a double play by jumping before he gets to second base.

The Mariners were able to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Josh Naylor’s RBI single, scoring Julio Rodríguez, who had a leadoff double to start the game. With Naylor on first, Jorge Polanco sent a grounder to shortstop that looked like an easy double play. Instead, Naylor turned around on his way into second base and hopped up into the throw. 

The umpires got together and correctly ruled the runner at first out due to Naylor’s interference.

Per rule 6.01(a)(6)

If, in the judgment of the umpire, a base runner willfully and deliberately interferes with a batted ball or a fielder in the act of fielding a batted ball with the obvious intent to break up a double play, the ball is dead. The umpire shall call the runner out for interference and also call out the batter-runner because of the action of his teammate. In no event may bases be run or runs scored because of such action by a runner.

The double play ended the inning. It’s 1-0 Mariners going to the bottom of the first.

Very long way to go in this one, but history is on Seattle’s side:

Seattle jumps ahead here in the top of the first, with Josh Naylor bringing home Julio Rodríguez with a one-out single. Smashed a ball into the ground that got underneath a diving Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and into right field.

Here’s a look:

The Mariners are seeking their first World Series appearance in franchise history.

The first-inning rally has happened a lot this postseason.

Shane Bieber delivers a ball to get us going. Winner advances to the World Series. 

Marco Estrada threw out the ceremonial first pitch in Toronto.

We’ve got about 20 minutes until first pitch. Here’s everything you need to know about Game 7.

Blue Jays vs. Mariners odds, Game 7 prediction: Everything to know with World Series spot on the line

Mike Axisa

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made the bold (yeah, let’s call it bold) decision to wear an Auston Matthews jersey to Rogers Centre ahead of ALCS Game 7 against the Mariners. If you can find an example of an athlete bringing worse pregame mojo upon himself with a single fashion decision, I would love to see it.

That’s because the Toronto Maple Leafs have now lost seven consecutive Game 7s. Six of those have come with Matthews on the roster. It should also be noted that number doesn’t even include the winner-take-all Game 5 the Leafs lost to the Columbus Blue Jackets in the 2020 play-in series.

In those six Game 7 defeats, Matthews has posted a combined zero goals and three assists. That’s not exactly a model of clutch postseason performance.

On one hand, it’s easy to see this as a terrible omen for the Blue Jays, destined for heartbreak just like their NHL counterparts. On the other hand, maybe this is exactly what Toronto needs.

What if Guerrero has a huge game and sends the Blue Jays to their first World Series since 1993? Perhaps he completely reverses the playoff fortunes of Matthews and the Maple Leafs in the process, allowing them to break through in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I’m diving in with four plays for Game 7.

Blue Jays vs. Mariners odds, ALCS Game 7 picks: Best bets with AL pennant on the line Monday night

Matt Snyder

A little background here for those interested … 

This will be just the 10th Game 7 in ALCS history. There have been 12 NLCS Game 7s. 

Here are the ALCS that have gone to Game 7: 1985 (Royals over Blue Jays), 1986 (Red Sox over Angels), 2003 (Yankees over Red Sox), 2004 (Red Sox over Yankees), 2007 (Red Sox over Cleveland), 2008 (Rays over Red Sox), 2017 (Astros over Yankees), 2020 (Rays over Astros), 2023 (Rangers over Astros). 

As a reminder, the LCS before 1985 were only five games. ALCS prior to 1985 that went the distance to Game 5: 1972, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1982.

The LCS didn’t start until 1969. Prior to that, the team with the best record in each league advanced directly to the World Series.

Including the World Series, there have previously been 59 Game 7s in MLB history. The home team has gone 30-29, though the home team is 1-7 in the last eight that weren’t at a neutral site.

The Blue Jays are 2-5 in ALCS in franchise history while the Mariners are 0-3.

Here’s how the visiting Mariners are lining it up in Game 7. 

1. Julio Rodríguez, CF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Josh Naylor, 1B
4. Jorge Polanco, DH
5. Randy Arozarena, LF
6. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
7. J.P. Crawford, SS
8. Luis Rivas, 2B
9. Victor Robles, RF

RHP George Kirby

Here’s how it’ll look for the home Blue Jays in Game 7 of the ALCS. 

1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukas, LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Alejandro Kirk, C
5. Daulton Varsho, CF
6. Ernie Clement, 3B
7. Addison Barger, RF
8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa
9. Andrés Giménez, SS

RHP Shane Bieber