Blue Jays Vs. Mariners 2025 ALCS: Insights, Stats, And Key To Victory

The end of the MLB postseason grows near, and we finally have the ALCS matchup. The top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays host the Seattle Mariners in Game One, and get the advantage if the series requires seven. Can the Mariners’ powerful offense take advantage of the opposing pitching staff, or will the Blue Jays’ offense continue to be the pesky birds of the north? Unless noted, all stats provided by MLB.

Blue Jays Vs. Mariners – The Bats

Both teams have potent, top-ten offenses at the end of the regular season, but with two opposite approaches. The Mariners ranked third in home runs this year, finishing with 238, led largely by catcher Cal Raleigh’s monumental sixty dingers. The Blue Jays’ 191 ranks them eleventh, but the offense was still undeniable, for other reasons. They had an MLB-best .265 batting average and were +.020 OPS points compared to their opponents.

Blue Jays Vs. Mariners – The Arms

The pitching this year undoubtedly goes to the Mariners. The staff averaged 0.27 fewer runs against in the regular season and 1.08 fewer in the playoffs. Those stats don’t paint the full picture for the Blue Jays, who had starting pitchers Shane Bieber and Trey Yesavage emerge as high-end talent in the final few weeks. Without Yesavage’s historical start in the ALDS, Toronto’s ERA would be embarrassing.

Blue Jays Vs. Mariners – The Defense

The Fielding Bible confirms the Blue Jays have the superior defense. Over the regular season, they saved 51 runs, while the Mariners saved just nine. While no one position saved ten or more runs for Seattle, Toronto had five, including 22 at second base, and 24 in centerfield.

Blue Jays Vs. Mariners – The Key

This is a difficult prediction. Will the Blue Jays starting pitching, which was worse all year, continue to be better in the playoffs? This includes Bieber, who recently returned from the IL, and a young man who has just four games on his MLB resume. The answer to this question will tell the tale of the series.