2025 American League Championship Series
Team (Wins) Managers Season Toronto Blue Jays (4) John Schneider 94–68 (.580), GA: 0 Seattle Mariners (3) Dan Wilson 90–72 (.556), GA: 3
Dates	October 12–20
MVP	Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto)
Umpires	Ryan Additon,Doug Eddings,Marvin Hudson,Alfonso Márquez (crew chief),Ben May,D. J. Reyburn,Quinn Wolcott
Broadcast
Television	Canada: Sportsnet Citytv (Game 1, 2 and 7) TVA Sports (French) United States: Fox (Game 1, 2 and 7) FS1 (Game 2–7) Fox Deportes (Spanish)
TV announcers	Dan Shulman,Buck Martinez, andHazel Mae (Sportsnet) Joe Davis,John Smoltz,Ken Rosenthal, andTom Verducci (Fox/FS1)
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Karl Ravech,Eduardo Pérez, andTim Kurkjian
ALDS	Toronto Blue Jays overNew York Yankees (3–1) Seattle Mariners overDetroit Tigers (3–2)
← 2024 ALCS

The2025 American League Championship Series (ALCS) was thebest-of-seven playoff inMajor League Baseball's2025 postseason between the top-seededToronto Blue Jays and the second-seededSeattle Mariners for theAmerican League (AL) pennant and the right to play in the2025 World Series. The series began on October 12 and ended with a 4–3 Blue Jays victory in a Game 7 win on October 20, highlighted by a seventh-inning go-ahead three-runhome run byGeorge Springer, the first go-ahead home run while trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later in Game 7 history.^[1]Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won theALCS MVP.

It marked the sixth time that twoexpansion teams have met in the ALCS, and was the second postseason meeting for the two teams since their matchup in the2022 American League Wild Card Series; they were both the teams added to the league in its1977 expansion. The Mariners were trying to reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history; they are the only major league team who have never played in that series. It was the first time the ALCS has featured two teams that have each played at least thirty yearssince reaching the World Series or never reaching it before in that timespan.^{[note 1]}

Fox andFS1 (including theirFox One streaming service) televised the games in the United States.^[2][3]Sportsnet (including itsSportsnet+ streaming service) televised the games in Canada in English,^[4] whileTVA Sports broadcast the series in French.^[5] Select games also aired in Canada on Sportsnet's sibling broadcast networkCitytv.^[6]

This was the first American League Championship Series (ALCS) since2015 not to feature theHouston Astros, who failed to qualify for the playoffs, theCleveland Guardians, who were defeated by theDetroit Tigers in the2025 American League Wild Card Series (ALWCS) in three games, or theNew York Yankees.

TheToronto Blue Jays qualified for the postseason on September 21 and won theAmerican League East by defeating theTampa Bay Rays on the last day of the season.^[7][8] They tied the New York Yankees in the standings at 94–68, but by virtue of their better 8–5 regular season head-to-head record against New York, they won the division to claim a first-round bye and the top seed in the league. It was the Blue Jays' first AL East title since2015 and their fourth overall postseason appearance since2020. In theALDS, they defeated the Yankees in four games, with their Game 1 win ending a six-game postseason losing streak.^[9][10] This was the Blue Jays' eighth ALCS (first since2016), going 2–5 in their previous seven appearances. Toronto was attempting to end its32-year pennant drought and return to the World Series for the first time since their1993 championship season, which was their second consecutive championship.

TheSeattle Mariners qualified for the postseason on September 23 with a win over theColorado Rockies.^[11] The next night, they defeated the Rockies again to clinch their firstAmerican League West division title since2001, which ended the second longest division title drought in the majors, and claimed a first-round bye as the second seed in the league.^[12] In the ALDS, the Mariners defeated theDetroit Tigers in five games on aJorge Polanco bases-loaded walk-off single in the 15th inning.^[13] This was the Mariners' fourth ALCS appearance, their previous three appearances having been in1995,2000, and2001. The Mariners were looking to win theAmerican League pennant and reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history in their 49th year of existence.

This series marked the second postseason meeting between the Blue Jays and Mariners, following the Mariners' sweep in the2022 American League Wild Card Series at theRogers Centre. In Game 2 of that series, the Mariners came back from an 8–1 deficit in the sixth inning and a 9–5 deficit in the eighth inning.^[14] The Blue Jays won the 2025 season series, 4–2, which included a road sweep of the Mariners inT-Mobile Park from May 9 to 11.^[15] This was the first ALCS to either feature a team that has never won a pennant (Mariners) or a team that has a 30-plus year pennant drought (Blue Jays) since the1995 ALCS, which also featured the Mariners.^[16] Both franchises came into the league together in1977 as part of expansion. This series also marked the sixth time that twoexpansion teams have met in the ALCS.^{[note 2]}

Toronto won the series, 4–3.

In the bottom of the first inning,George Springer hit a leadoff home run off Mariners starterBryce Miller's first pitch to give the Blue Jays a 1–0 lead. Springer's home run was the only run the Blue Jays scored in this game and one of two Toronto hits. The Blue Jays led until the top of the sixth inning, whenCal Raleigh hit a solo home run off Blue Jays starterKevin Gausman to tie the game at 1–1.Brendon Little then relieved Gausman and allowed aJorge Polanco hit RBI single that scoredJulio Rodríguez for the Mariners to take the lead at 2–1. Gausman pitched5+2⁄3 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, and one walk while striking out five batters. Miller, pitching on short rest after starting Game 4 of the ALDS, pitched six innings, allowing two hits, one run, and three walks with three strikeouts. In the top of the eighth inning, Polanco hit another RBI single, scoringRandy Arozarena for an insurance run to extend the Mariners' lead to 3–1. Mariners closerAndrés Muñoz got the last out afterAlejandro Kirk flew out to left field as the Mariners took a 1–0 lead in the series.

This was the first Mariners' LCS win sinceGame 3 of the 2001 ALCS against theNew York Yankees.^[24]

TheToronto Maple Leafs of theNational Hockey League moved the time of their October 13 home game against theDetroit Red Wings up two hours to accommodate Game 2 of the ALCS; fans could stay inside theScotiabank Arena to watch the remainder of Game 2 of the ALCS live.^[25][26]

In the top of the first inning, after hittingRandy Arozarena with a pitch and walkingCal Raleigh, Blue Jays starterTrey Yesavage gave up a three-run home run toJulio Rodríguez to give the Mariners a 3−0 lead. In the bottom of the inning,George Springer scored whenNathan Lukes reached on a throwing error byJosh Naylor, cutting the Mariners' lead to 3−1. Later that inning, Lukes scored on anAlejandro Kirk single, reducing the Mariners' lead to 3−2. In the bottom of the second inning,Ernie Clement scored to tie the game 3−3, when Lukes hit an RBI single. Mariners starterLogan Gilbert pitched three innings, giving up three runs on five hits and one walk, while striking out two. Yesavage pitched four innings, giving up five runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four. In the top of the fifth inning,Jorge Polanco hit a three-run home run offLouis Varland, giving the Mariners a 6−3 lead. In the top of the sixth inning,Mitch Garver hit a lead-off triple and was later pinch-run for byLeo Rivas, who scored on an RBI single byJ. P. Crawford, extending the Mariners' lead to 7−3. In the top of the seventh inning, Polanco hit a single, then Naylor hit a two-run home run, pushing the Mariners' lead to 9−3. Still in the seventh inning,Eugenio Suárez scored on Crawford's sacrifice fly to give the Mariners a 10−3 lead. The Mariners took Game 2 and a 2–0 lead in the series.^[27]

The game began with a familiar sense of déjà vu, mirroring the first two matchups. In the bottom of the first inning,Julio Rodríguez hit a two-run home run off Blue Jays starterShane Bieber to give the Mariners an early lead. This time, however, the Blue Jays turned the tables.Andrés Giménez hit a two-run home run off Mariners starterGeorge Kirby to tie the game at two in the third.Nathan Lukes scored a go-ahead run on a wild pitch from Kirby, andDaulton Varsho scoredVladimir Guerrero Jr. andAlejandro Kirk on a two-run RBI double, putting the Blue Jays up 5–2. In the top of the fourth inning,George Springer hit a solo home run, making it 6–2. Kirby pitched four innings, allowing eight hits, eight runs, and walking two batters while striking out four batters. The offensive surge continued in the fifth when Guerrero crushed a homer to center field, pushing the lead to 7–2.Ernie Clement then scoredAnthony Santander, padding the margin to 8–2. In the sixth, Kirk blew the game wide open with a three-run homer off Mariners relieverCaleb Ferguson, stretching the Blue Jays' advantage to 12–2. Bieber pitched six innings, allowing four hits, two runs, and walking only one batter while striking out eight batters. The Mariners found some late offense in the bottom of the eighth, where back-to-back home runs fromRandy Arozarena andCal Raleigh trimmed the deficit to 12–4. But in the top of the ninth,Addison Barger added one more with a solo shot, making it 13–4. The game ended whenVictor Robles grounded out to Guerrero, sealing the Blue Jays' first win of the series.^[28]

In the bottom of the second inning,Josh Naylor hit a solo home run off Blue Jays starterMax Scherzer to get the Mariners in front at 1–0. In the top of the third inning,Andrés Giménez hit a two-run home run off Mariners starterLuis Castillo to flip the lead in the Blue Jays' favor to 2–1. Castillo pitched2+1⁄3 innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and walking one batter while striking out one. The Blue Jays extended their lead to 3–1 when Mariners relieverGabe Speier walkedDaulton Varsho, scoringNathan Lukes. In the top of the fourth inning,George Springer scoredIsiah Kiner-Falefa on an RBI double, and Springer scored on a wild pitch from relieverMatt Brash as the Blue Jays extended their lead to 5–1. Scherzer pitched5+2⁄3 innings, allowing three hits, one run, and walking four while striking out five. In the bottom of the sixth inning,Jorge Polanco scored on an RBI single byEugenio Suárez, cutting the Blue Jays' lead to 5–2. In the top of the seventh inning,Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a solo home run to center field, extending the Blue Jays' lead to 6–2. In the top of the eighth inning, Giménez scoredErnie Clement andMyles Straw on a two-run RBI single, further extending the lead to 8–2. The Blue Jays got the final out of the game when relieverSeranthony Domínguez struck outDominic Canzone and evened the series at two apiece, making it a best-of-three going forward in the ALCS.^[29]

Scherzer was the fourth starting pitcher with a postseason win at age 41 or older, joining:Roger Clemens (5 wins),Kenny Rogers (3), andDennis Martínez (1).^[30]

Game 5 featured a pitching rematch from Game 1 between starting pitchersKevin Gausman andBryce Miller. In the bottom of the second inning,Eugenio Suárez hit a solo home run off Gausman, giving the Mariners a 1−0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning, Miller escaped a bases-loaded jam afterErnie Clement grounded into a double play. Miller pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four. In the top of the fifth inning, a leadoff single fromAddison Barger prompted Miller's removal, and the Blue Jays would then break through against Seattle's relievers, withGeorge Springer tying the game with an RBI single, scoring Barger from second. The top of the sixth inning would then see the Blue Jays take the lead when Clement delivered a single that drove inAlejandro Kirk, putting the Blue Jays ahead 2–1. Gausman would make it two outs through the home sixth before being replaced, having pitched5+2⁄3 innings, allowing three hits and one run while issuing three walks and recording four strikeouts.

The seventh would go quietly, althoughDominic Canzone would come within inches of tying the game with a flyball just left of the foul pole. Following a 1-2-3 top of the eighth,Cal Raleigh retied the game with a flyball shot to left off Blue Jays relieverBrendon Little to tie the game 2–2. The Mariners would then break it open against Little with back-to-back walks, followed byRandy Arozarena getting hit by a pitch fromSeranthony Domínguez, who came on in relief. Suárez then launched a grand slam to right field to give the Mariners a commanding 6-2 lead. For Suárez, it was the fourth grand slam he had hit this season.^[31] CloserAndrés Muñoz got the final out afterJoey Loperfido ground out to shortstopJ. P. Crawford as the Mariners took Game 5 of the ALCS. This marked the first time in this series that the home team won a game, as the road team had won the four previous games in the ALCS.

This win marked the first time in franchise history the Mariners won three games in an ALCS, previously only winning two against theCleveland Indians in1995 and theNew York Yankees in2000. This was also the first home win for the Mariners in an ALCS since 2000.^[32]

Game 6 featured a pitching rematch from Game 2 between startersTrey Yesavage of the Blue Jays andLogan Gilbert of the Mariners in what was the first game the Mariners ever played where a win would seal the pennant.

The Jays' right-handed youngster would answer the call early, retiring the minimum with four strikeouts in the first two innings. The Blue Jays would quickly capitalize in the home side of the second, withDaulton Varsho andErnie Clement both reaching base before back-to-back hits fromAddison Barger andIsiah Kiner-Falefa drove them in to take a 2–0 lead for the Blue Jays. In the top of the third inning, Yesavage escaped a one-out bases-loaded jam withCal Raleigh grounding into a double play. Barger then hit a two-run home run off Gilbert in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 4–0. In the top of the fourth inning, Yesavage again loaded the bases with one out and again escaped the jam withJ.P. Crawford grounding into a double play. In the bottom of the fifth inning,Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued his postseason tear when he homered to left field to extend the lead to five, chasing Gilbert from the game. Gilbert pitched four innings, allowing seven hits, four runs, and walking one batter while striking out three.

In the top of the sixth inning,Josh Naylor hit a solo home run off Yesavage to put the Mariners on the board 5–1. Yesavage was then replaced after another single toRandy Arozarena, having pitched5+2⁄3 innings, allowing six hits, one run, and walking three batters while striking out seven.Eugenio Suárez then scored Arozarena to cut the Blue Jays' lead to 5–2. But the Mariner bats would go hitless for the rest of the night, and in the bottom of the seventh inning, a wild pitch from Mariners relieverMatt Brash and a throwing error by catcher Cal Raleigh brought in Guerrero from second base, putting the Blue Jays back to a four run advantage. The Blue Jays got the final out of the game whenDominic Canzone popped out to Clement, evening the series at 3–3 apiece and forcing a winner-takes-all Game 7.^[33]

External videos
Game 7 full replay on the MLB's official YouTube channel

This was the first Game 7 played by the Mariners in franchise history, and it was only the second played by the Blue Jays, who last did so in the ALCS in1985. This was the first Game 7 of an LCS since2023, when both series went to a decisive Game 7. Game 7 featured a pitching rematch from Game 3 between startersShane Bieber of the Blue Jays andGeorge Kirby of the Mariners.

In the top of the first inning,Josh Naylor hit an RBI single, scoringJulio Rodríguez to give Seattle a 1−0 lead. The Blue Jays responded in the bottom half, asDaulton Varsho tied the game with a 2-out single that drove inGeorge Springer. Bieber would work out of a 2-hit second, but in the third, Rodríguez tagged him for a solo home run to give Seattle a 2–1 lead. Bieber pitched3+2⁄3 innings, allowing seven hits, two runs, and walking one batter while striking out five. His counterpart Kirby allowed four hits, one run, and one walk over four complete innings while striking out three. In the fifth inning,Cal Raleigh drove a changeup from Blue Jays relieverLouis Varland into the right field bullpen, extending Seattle's lead to 3-1. In the bottom half, Kirby gave way toBryan Woo, who struck out Springer on three pitches and induced a double play fromNathan Lukes.

In the bottom of the seventh, with the Mariners nine outs from their first World Series appearance, the bottom of Toronto's order rallied against Woo.Addison Barger drew a leadoff walk andIsiah Kiner-Falefa followed with a single into center field. 9th hitterAndrés Giménez laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the tying run into scoring position. Woo was relieved byEduard Bazardo, who was tasked with facing leadoff manGeorge Springer. On the second pitch, Springer hit a dramatic three-run home run into the left field bleachers, sending Rogers Centre into a frenzy and giving the Blue Jays a 4–3 lead. It was the first go-ahead homer while trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later in a Game 7 in MLB history.^[34]

After the Mariners escaped a jam to keep it a one-run game going into the ninth, the Blue Jays called on closerJeff Hoffman for his second save opportunity of the postseason. Hoffman proceeded to fan bothLeo Rivas and pinch-hitterDominic Canzone, setting up a showdown with the dangerous Rodríguez. After falling behind 2-0, Hoffman got Rodríguez to chase back-to-back sliders off the plate, evening the count at 2-2. With the count full, Hoffman struck out Rodríguez with another slider off the plate and sent the Jays to theWorld Series for the first time in 32 years.

This series was the closest the Mariners have come to winning a pennant, as they previously lost to theCleveland Indians andNew York Yankees in six games in1995 and2000 respectively. With this loss, Seattle remains the only franchise in Major League Baseball never to appear in aWorld Series, as their ALCS record fell to 0-4.^[35]

With the win, the Blue Jays won their first Game 7 in franchise history, and became the first team to win a League Championship Series after losing the first two games at home^[36] (the Dodgers won the2020 NLCS after losing the first two games as the home team, but that wasplayed at a neutral site due to theCOVID-19 pandemic).^[36] However, this situation happened in three pastWorld Series: TheKansas City Royals,New York Mets, andNew York Yankees accomplished the feat in1985,1986, and1996, respectively.^[36]

For hitting .385 with three home runs in the series,Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won theALCS MVP.

2025 ALCS(4–3):Toronto Blue Jays defeatedSeattle Mariners

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