By AJ Sikora ’28
Toronto Blue Jays
Common season document: 94-68 (1st in AL)
The Blue Jays are coming off a formidable exhibiting in opposition to the Yankees within the ALDS, which they received in 4 video games. Their offense averaged 8.5 runs per recreation, which is all of the extra spectacular contemplating the pitching they confronted: reigning AL rookie of the yr Luis Gil; Max Fried, who led the league in wins with 19; Carlos Rodon, who completed proper behind him with 18 wins; and Cam Schlittler, who was coming off an 8-inning, 0-run, 12-strikeout efficiency in opposition to Boston in Recreation 3 of the Wild Card sequence.
Toronto confirmed that old skool baseball nonetheless works. They relentlessly put the ball in play and made issues occur, stringing collectively hits and bringing in runs. They averaged 12.5 hits per recreation, slashing .338/.373/.601 as a membership. That’s to not say they didn’t reap the benefits of the lengthy ball in any respect, although. The Jays drove in 15 of their 34 runs on 9 house runs within the sequence. Three of them got here off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who’s having a monster postseason to this point regardless of ending the common season on a little bit of a slide.
The Jays additionally will profit from some additional relaxation versus the Mariners, who walked off a 15-inning Recreation 5 in opposition to the Tigers. Kevin Gausman, who gave up 1 run in 5.2 innings in Recreation 1, may have had a complete seven days off when he takes the mound on Sunday. This season, in 4 begins coming off at the very least six full relaxation days, Gausman has a 1.98 ERA. Taking away his first such begin—his second recreation of the season in early April—that quantity drops to 1.23. In every of these three video games, he went at the very least seven innings.
Except for Gausman, the opposite shiny spot within the rotation was Trey Yesavage. The Blue Jays’ 2024 first spherical draft choose threw 5.1 no-hit innings to arrange his staff for the win in Recreation 2. Yesavage throws a novel splitter that opponents are hitting simply .111 in opposition to. It has over 11 inches of arm-side break along with virtually 32 inches of whole vertical drop. Yesavage has not confronted the Mariners but in his younger profession, so that might work in his favor as effectively.
Seattle Mariners
Common season document: 90-72 (1st in AL West)
The Mariners have made it to the ALCS for the primary time since their 116-win season in 2001. They defeated the Tigers in a 15-inning marathon Friday night time, with Jorge Polanco hitting a walkoff single off of Tommy Kahnle. General, although, the offense struggled to place up runs constantly, scoring greater than three solely as soon as throughout the 5 recreation set. They slashed .207/.292/.342 and hit a complete of six house runs of their 5 video games. Seattle has relied pretty closely on the house run—their 238 this season have been third within the majors. A league-leading 60 of these have been contributed by Cal Raleigh, who hit a homer within the ALDS and batted .381 with a .480 OBP. The Mariners should get the remainder of the offense rolling a bit extra in the event that they wish to win their first ever American League pennant, particularly going through a Blue Jays staff that has had no bother scoring runs currently.
On the opposite facet of the ball, the Mariners pitched to a strong 3.29 ERA and 1.038 WHIP within the sequence, an enchancment on their 3.87 and 1.220 numbers from the common season. George Kirby gave up 3 earned runs with 14 strikeouts in 10 innings throughout his two begins. Logan Gilbert additionally pitched effectively, giving up a run and placing out seven throughout six innings in Recreation 3. Bryan Woo is predicted to be added again to the roster for the ALCS, so the beginning pitching will get a significant increase. Bryce Miller, who gave up 2 earned runs in 4.1 innings in a Recreation 4 loss to Detroit, will begin Recreation 1.
The Seattle bullpen was inconsistent within the division sequence. Recreation 4 was their worst exhibiting, with relievers collectively permitting 7 earned runs in 3.2 innings. A game-winning run off Carlos Vargas in Recreation 1 spoiled what was then a 5-inning scoreless efficiency. Recreation 5 was in all probability their finest, regardless of a blown lead within the sixth: the Mariners shut down the Tigers for 9 innings after that to arrange their eventual walkoff victory. Three of these innings have been coated by beginning pitchers Gilbert and Luis Castillo, however the bullpen was nonetheless a big contributor to the series-clinching win.
Prediction
Regardless of a stellar season from Cal Raleigh, this Mariners staff is a far cry from the one which tied the all-time document for wins in 2001. The Blue Jays confirmed that they will beat groups that depend on the house run with contact, pitching, and protection. Toronto’s house discipline benefit can also come into play right here, as these are two groups that carried out significantly better at house than on the highway. In reality, the Mariners had a dropping document of 39-42 because the away staff this season. Sadly, Mariners followers should wait even longer for that elusive first World Sequence look, and the Blue Jays will get there for the primary time since their repeat as champions in 1992 and ‘93. Toronto in six.
