MLB
Advertisement
live
Updated 1m ago
The Seattle Mariners can advance to their first World Series in franchise history while the Toronto Blue Jays aim to force a Game 7 at home as the 2025 ALCS heads back to Rogers Centre for Game 6.
Follow live for play-by-play updates and real-time expert analysis from The Athletic’s team of MLB writers through the final out and beyond.
When the Blue Jays left Toronto after losing the first two games at home, it was hard to imagine they’d even get another game at the home park. Now, they’re three outs away from getting a decider tomorrow. Toronto hasn’t been to the World Series since winning it in 1993. The Mariners have a tortured fanbase, arguably one of the most tortured. But they’re not completely alone.
Advertisement
▶️ George Springer is a warrior for staying in this game. He clearly is in pain and Vargas throws a high pitch that nearly hits him. Springer has to dive to get out of the way, drawing boos from the crowd. He is favoring the knee as he strikes out, going 0-for-4 today | Bottom 8th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
▶️ Jeff Hoffman just worked through the heart of the Mariners’ lineup on 15 pitches. The Jays are three outs from the franchise’s first Game 7 in 40 years. | Bottom 8th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
▶️ Long at bat between Jeff Hoffman and Jorge Polanco. Blue Jays fans are on their feet. Hoffman throws the splitter in the dirt as Polanco tried to check his swing but went too far. Two outs in the inning. | Top 8th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
▶️ Jeff Hoffman with a great start to the eighth inning. He strikes out Cal Raleigh, who is 0-for-4 tonight. Nice pitch from Hoffman with the high fastball. Raleigh has three strikeouts and a ground ball double play tonight. | Top 8th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
▶️ Isiah Kiner-Falefa flies out to right field to end the inning. Toronto goes into the eighth with a four-run lead. Can the Blue Jays hold with Jeff Hoffman coming into the game? | Top 8th Blue Jays 5, Mariners 2
Advertisement
Matt Brash pitching like he could have used the day off. He's not able to locate anything. And by allowing him to continue with the bases loaded here, Dan Wilson could be jeopardizing his effectiveness tomorrow.
▶️ Matt Brash walks Addison Barger to load the bases. Myles Straw comes into the game for Barger and will stay in defensively. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is up to bat. Huge opportunity here to blow this game wide open for the Blue Jays. | Bottom 7th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a delight to watch in this series. He was clearly miffed at taking a Matt Brash pitch off his elbow. He jumped quickly on a dirt ball read from second base, dove into third base and then sprinted home and let out a big yell. He’s a game-breaker this October.
Cal Raleigh should have eaten that one. The running throw there looked dangerous to everyone watching that play out. The Mariners' have made a bunch of mental mistakes today, in the biggest game of their 49-year history. That was huge insurance.
▶️ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. cashes in the Blue Jays' sixth run thanks to a Cal Raleigh throwing error. A wild pitch that allowed the runners to advance and a throwing error from Raleigh to allow Guerrero Jr. to come home. Blue Jays add another run. | Bottom 7th Blue Jays 6, Mariners 2
Advertisement
A factor that gets increasingly important as series progress to six and seven games: When a starting pitcher is yanked early, as Logan Gilbert was tonight, it not only taxes the bullpen but further exposes the team’s best leverage arms. The Blue Jays have seen a bunch of Eduard Bazardo, Matt Brash and Gabe Speier. They have only faced Andrés Muñoz twice, but if this game stays close the Mariners may need to turn to their closer even in a (potentially) losing cause. A starter giving you six innings, rather than four, just does so much to help the pitching plan for the game — and the series.
▶️ Matt Brash's pitch catches Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the elbow. Boos ensue from the fans at Rogers Centre. Guerrero looks to be OK as he runs to first base. | Top 7th Blue Jays 5, Mariners 2
Louis Varland after coming to Toronto at the trade deadline from Minnesota. He had a 2.02 ERA with the Twins, but a 4.94 ERA with the Blue Jays, and worse in every area. He's stepped up as a reliable option in the postseason — just three earned runs over 9 2/3 innings in October.
George Springer is clearly in a lot of pain, dealing with his injured knee. He slipped out of the box in his last at-bat, and hobbled to first. Every time he returns to the dugout, medical staff descend. They’re gonna have to drag him out of Toronto’s lead-off spot, it seems.
Jeff Hoffman just got up in the Blue Jays bullpen. It seems they won’t look beyond him for the eighth inning today.
Advertisement
▶️ Huge inning for Louis Varland. He retires the side without putting a baserunner on. The Blue Jays are six outs away from forcing a Game 7. | Bottom 7th Blue Jays 5, Mariners 2
▶️ Louis Varland has thrown 12 pitchers thus far. He starts the seventh inning for the Blue Jays. Can he retire the Mariners' 8 and 9 hitters? | Top 7th Blue Jays 5, Mariners 2
Eduard Bazardo's ability to work efficiently will benefit Seattle. He'll be relied on tomorrow, if there is a game. But clearly Dan Wilson hasn't punted on this game, otherwise he wouldn't be pitching.
