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Before Game 7 of the AL Championship Series, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said there was going to be a “Holy s—!” moment. Well, I certainly uttered those words when a certain someone hit a certain homer that propelled Schneider’s Jays into the World Series. Now, we have a few days to catch our breath before Game 1 of the World Series on Friday.

PURE POSTSEASON PANDEMONIUM

— MLB (Bot) (@mlbbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T02:40:37.000Z

 

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Championship Series Chatter

 

Springer Launches Blue Jays Back To World Series

Final score: Blue Jays 4, Mariners 3

Series: Blue Jays win series 4-3

Next game: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Friday, 8 p.m. (Fox)

From last place in the AL East to the best record in the AL and now the World Series. And thanks to another comeback and another big home run from George Springer, the Toronto Blue Jays have a chance at another world championship. Springer added to his postseason lore by drilling a go-ahead three-run homer with one out in the seventh inning as the Jays overcame the Seattle Mariners 4-3 in Game 7 of the AL Championship Series at Rogers Centre. After losing the first two games at home, the Jays won Games 6 and 7 in front of their fans to secure their first trip to the World Series since winning back-to-back titles in 1992 and 1993, their only appearances in the Fall Classic. For the Mariners, it was a heartbreaking finish to not only a game they led with eight outs to go in Game 7, but in the closest they have ever been to the franchise’s first trip to the World Series.

Now, the Blue Jays will open the World Series on Friday against the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre.

And the position player with one of the more distinguished postseason pedigrees is a huge reason why. The Jays entered the bottom of the seventh inning trailing the Mariners 3-1. Addison Barger walked on five pitches and Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to center on an 0-2 pitch. Andrés Giménez put down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners to second and third. The Mariners changed pitchers, taking out right-hander Bryan Woo, a starter pitching in relief, in favor of right-hander Eduard Bazardo, who held right-handed hitters to a .166 batting average this season. A sinker specialist, Bazardo’s 1-0 sinker was crushed to left field by Springer and setting the Rogers Centre fans into a frenzy. While it wasn’t Joe Carter’s World Series walk-off homer, Springer’s 23rd postseason homer was just as memorable.

But entering the seventh, it appeared like the Mariners would finally break through and get their first World Series appearance. The game opened like the hitters were going to dominate the night. Julio Rodríguez led off the game with a double down the left-field line and scored one out later on Josh Naylor’s single to right. The Jays struck back in the bottom of the first as Springer walked and, one out later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled. After a strikeout, Daulton Varsho tied it up by grounding a single past a diving second baseman Leo Rivas and Springer scoring from second. Rodriguez, who has been having a good postseason, added to that by taking Shane Bieber’s 2-2 slider and depositing it in the left-center seats for a leadoff homer, his fourth of the postseason. J-Rod’s homer came a few pitches after fouling a ball off his leg. In the fifth inning, the Mariners’ other big bat, AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, made it 3-1 when he took Louis Varland deep for a leadoff homer, his fifth of the postseason — third in the ALCS — after hitting 60 in the regular season.

Guerrero, the heart of the Jays and the face of the franchise after signing a 14-year, $500 million contract extension in April, was named the NLCS MVP after going 10-for-26 (.385) with three solo homers.

Naylz strikes first! #SeizeTheMoment

— Seattle Mariners (Bot) (@marinersbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T00:19:20.000Z

Varsho gets it back! #WANTITALL

— Toronto Blue Jays (Bot) (@bluejaysbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T00:40:26.000Z

 

By The Numbers

 

⚾ The Jays became the fourth team to lose the first two games at home and win a best-of-seven series.

⚾ George Springer’s seventh-inning homer was the first go-ahead homer when trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later in a Game 7. He also moved into a tie for third place in career postseason homers with 23.

Most career postseason home runs:Manny Ramírez: 29Jose Altuve: 27 George Springer: 23Kyle Schwarber: 23Bernie Williams: 22Derek Jeter: 20

— (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T02:41:16.930Z

⚾ For the first time in his long baseball career, Don Mattingly is going to the World Series. The Jays’ bench coach never made it with the New York Yankees during 14 years as a player, nor with the Dodgers during five seasons (2011-15) as their manager and seven seasons (2016-22) as the Miami Marlins‘ skipper.

⚾ George Kirby of the Mariners became the 15th pitcher to start two winner-take-all games in the same postseason and the fourth to allow one or zero runs in both.

George Kirby is the 15th pitcher to start 2 winner-take-all games in a single postseasonHe’s the fourth of those to allow 1 or 0 runs in both, joining:1991 John Smoltz1985 Bret Saberhagen1972 Blue Moon Odom

— (@slangsonsports.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T02:29:05.615Z

 

Best Moments From Yesterday

 

Bench Erupts

George Springer’s homer electrified the Jays’ bench.

Jumping For …

Josh Naylor of the Mariners jumped into this throw to first base to disrupt a potential double play. While initially successful, the umpires ruled he interfered and the batter was ruled out at first.

Blue Jays get the inning-ending double play after the umpires rule that Josh Naylor deliberately got in the way of the throw to first

— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T00:27:27.000Z

Pulling An Escape

Blue Jays starter Shane Bieber got out of a second-inning jam (two on, one out) with a strikeout and this comebacker.

Shane Bieber and the @BlueJays escape the jam 😮

— MLB (Bot) (@mlbbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T00:48:25.000Z

Air Crawford

Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford used his athleticism to turn this double play to end the fifth inning.

Hope For Leafs?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned some heads when he showed up at Rogers Centre wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater with the name of superstar Auston Matthews on the back. The Leafs have famously not won a Stanley Cup since 1967, but have won the most with 13. Matthews is 0-6 in playoff Game 7s.

Vladdy Jr. pulled up to ALCS Game 7 in a Maple Leafs jersey 👀(via @sportsnet)

— MLB (Bot) (@mlbbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-20T22:17:08.000Z

Postgame Pop

Scenes following Game 7.

Vladdy:”The job’s not finished”

— Talkin’ Baseball (Bot) (@talkinbaseballbot.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T03:19:59.000Z

Sorry, Cal.

— JM =^) (@jm539581.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T03:26:13.190Z

Mad Max Scherzer

— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) 2025-10-21T04:02:57.287Z

 

Noteworthy News

 

Bichette Progressing, Hopes To Return For World Series

The Blue Jays could be getting a key piece of their team back for the World Series. Shortstop Bo Bichette, out since Sept. 7 with a sprained left PCL, has been making “significant progress” in his attempt to be ready for the World Series. Bichette, who did a little hitting and on-field running for the first time since his injury before being deemed not ready for the ALCS, has continued his work but has yet to go full speed, manager John Schneider said. Now, Bichette will ramp up the intensity and has a few more days to show the coaching and medical staff he can contribute in the World Series. Andrés Giménez, a former Gold Glove second baseman, has been playing short during the postseason. The Jays already will be without outfielder Anthony Santander, who was removed from the ALCS roster due to back issues and is ineligible to play in the World Series.

Pujols Out Of Angels’ Search

In a rather surprising development (well, maybe not), Albert Pujols is no longer being considered to manage the Los Angeles Angels. The probable future Hall of Famer, who played 10 seasons with the Angels after 12 with the St. Louis Cardinals, had been negotiating with the Angels, which indicates he had been offered the job. But contract talks broke down over money and years. Pujols, who has no MLB coaching or managing experience, was expected to interview with the Baltimore Orioles for their vacancy and has now been linked to the San Diego Padres‘ opening. Pujols is still due $7 million over the next seven years by the Angels for a personal-services contract. Last winter, Pujols managed Leones del Escogido to the LIDOM and Caribbean Series championships and has been named as the manager for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Extra Bases

⚾ John Morris, a left-handed pitcher who saw action with four teams including the Seattle Pilots, died Oct. 15. He was 84. In his eight MLB seasons, he played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and San Francisco Giants. He had a 3.95 ERA is 132 games covering 232⅓ innings.

 

Articles You Should Read

 

Why the Dodgers’ return to the World Series was only a matter of time — Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times

Giants are circling the most interesting managerial hire in decades — Mike Baumann, FanGraphs

Kiké Hernandez will break Dodgers’ postseason record for games in World Series — Eric Stephen, True Blue LA

Reds’ McLain working on bounce back for 2026 after healthy offseason — Mark Sheldon, MLB.com

What the Orioles can learn from Yesavage and the Jays — Andy Kostka, Baltimore Banner