TORONTO – For the first time since 1993, the Blue Jays are a win away from the World Series.
The last time the Blue Jays won the American League pennant, only six players on the current ALCS roster were even born: Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Jeff Hoffman, George Springer and Tyler Heineman. Now, they’re about to play in the franchise’s second ever Game 7 and the first since 1985, when the Blue Jays lost to the Royals in their playoff debut.
It’s all on the line for a chance to face Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 World Series (Sportsnet, 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT).
“Anything can happen in Game 7,” said Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who hit his MLB-leading sixth home run of the post-season in Game 6.
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Watch the Blue Jays in the ALCS on Sportsnet
The Toronto Blue Jays will face the Seattle Mariners in Game 7 of the ALCS on Monday at 8:10 p.m. ET / 5:10 p.m. PT. Catch the game on Sportsnet or Sportsnet+.
With Shane Bieber on the mound opposite George Kirby, the Blue Jays like how they’re positioned. But in a game where one team goes to the World Series and the other goes home, many more pitchers will likely be called upon and every last decision will be scrutinized.
“This is what we sign up for. Whenever you can play for Game 7 to go to the World Series, it sounds kind of cool to say it,” manager John Schneider said after Game 6. “Got to come out and do it again.”
As Game 7 approaches, let’s take a closer look at how the Blue Jays are likely to approach things strategically, starting on the offensive side before looking at the pitching staff:
Lineup: A new look for Kirby
When the Blue Jays first faced Kirby in Game 3, they scored eight runs off him so the combination evidently worked. At the same time, they had the now-inactive Anthony Santander batting cleanup so Kirby will be seeing a different lineup this time.
Alejandro Kirk has been hitting cleanup lately and Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been playing lots of second base since Santander went down, but we’re talking about a team that used 146 different batting orders this season. It’s possible more changes are coming.
This much is sure, though. George Springer, who fouled a ball off his knee in Game 5, says he’s good to go atop the lineup. And Guerrero Jr., who went three for three with a double and a homer off Kirby in Game 3, will be batting third.
“He’s a good hitter,” Kirby acknowledged. “We have ideas how to attack him. We’ve just got to get inside a little bit, make him feel uncomfortable.”
Offensive strategy: swing early & bunt late
While the Blue Jays hadn’t technically played a must-win game until Sunday, they’ve been playing some extremely high stakes baseball for three-plus weeks now, dating back to the end of the regular season when they had to win out to earn the AL East title over the Yankees.
During that time, the Blue Jays have given us insight into how they operate when the stakes are highest – and while they do bunt more than most clubs, this is a team that swings away early.
Consider the way the Blue Jays handled Andres Gimenez at T-Mobile Park this week. In each of the Blue Jays’ three road games, Gimenez happened to bat in the third inning with a runner on, nobody out and the Blue Jays trailing.
But while a bunt-happy team might have asked their No. 9 hitter to lay one down, the Blue Jays asked Gimenez to swing away (not only do they have a bunt sign, they have a don’t-bunt sign). To his credit, he made exceptionally good contact, hitting a pair of two-run homers before lining into a double play.
The strategy worked, reinforcing the old adage that if you play for one run that’s all you’ll get. So in the early innings of Game 7, expect the Blue Jays to swing away just as they’ve done so far this series.
That said, the Blue Jays did use 35 sac bunts this year, third most in MLB. So if they need a single run late or end up playing extra innings, it’s a tool they’re comfortable using with certain players like Myles Straw (11), Ernie Clement (7), Nathan Lukes (7), Heineman (5) and Kiner-Falefa (5).
Pitching availability: everyone’s in
With the third World Series berth in franchise history at stake, this is the time to push through fatigue and be prepared to use starting pitchers out of the bullpen. At this point in the year it’s not about pitch counts. Rather, the goal should be to make sure the Mariners see the nastiest stuff and best command possible – and if it means pushing pitchers harder than normal, so be it.
If you lose, well, you went down swinging. If you win, the pitchers would get three days off to rest before Game 1 of the World Series on Friday in Toronto.
From the outside looking in, the Blue Jays appear to be positioned relatively well. Thanks to another impressive start by Trey Yesavage in Game 6, they used just two relievers Sunday: Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman. As expected, both will be available again.
As Schneider put it: “Every single person that is active on our roster will be available.”
“Of course,” Hoffman added late Sunday night. “The most important part is a good night’s sleep and I’ll get that tonight. And then tomorrow, just make sure I’m fuelled up and ready to go, get a good meal in and then I’ll be ready.”
Meanwhile, Seranthony Dominguez warmed up late in Game 6 without pitching and will be on two days’ rest if needed for Game 7.
Plus, it’s not just relievers who will be available Monday. Starter Kevin Gausman has already vowed to get his cleats on in case he’s needed, though he’ll be on just two days’ rest. Max Scherzer, who would be on three days’ rest, is a candidate to make his sixth ever post-season relief appearance.
“If you like post-season baseball, this is what it’s all about,” said Gausman. “You might see Max Scherzer in the fifth. You might see me in later in the game. This is just kind of what it is.”
