The stage is set for the ALCS.
In Game 5 of the American League Division Series on Friday night, the Mariners staved off elimination with a walk-off win. The epic 15-inning marathon — the longest winner-take-all game in postseason history — vaulted Seattle into the League Championship Series, where the Blue Jays await. Toronto will host Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday (8:03 p.m. ET on FOX).
The stakes are high, especially for two franchises starved for a World Series berth. The Blue Jays have not made the Fall Classic since 1993, when they won their second of back-to-back championships. On the other hand, the Mariners have never even won the pennant.
We asked a number of MLB.com experts to make their predictions on how the ALCS will unfold. Check out their picks for the series below.
Mariners (No. 2 seed) vs. Blue Jays (No. 1 seed)
The pick: Blue Jays (18 of 29 votes, 62%)
The Blue Jays looked the part of a World Series contender while dismantling the Yankees in the ALDS. Yes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was virtually unstoppable, but Toronto received contributions from up and down its roster, too. A relentless offense rapped out 50 hits across the four games, pummeling New York with a blissful combination of contact and power — emblematic of a revamped approach from new hitting coach David Popkins.
To win their first pennant since 1993, the Blue Jays will continue to rely heavily on their bats. That effort starts with Guerrero, who tormented the Yankees with a 1.609 OPS in the ALDS. But don’t forget about George Springer — coming off a resurgent regular season — and Alejandro Kirk, and perhaps even Bo Bichette, who said Wednesday night that he feels “optimistic” about his chances to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him since Sept. 6.
The task won’t be easy. Toronto hitters will have their hands full with a stalwart Mariners pitching staff, which seems poised to receive a boost from All-Star right-hander Bryan Woo, who was not on the ALDS roster due to pectoral inflammation. But the Blue Jays did knock around a couple of All-Stars — like Max Fried and Carlos Rodón — in their ALDS triumph. This isn’t new to them.
Series predictions
Blue Jays (6 games): 13 votes
Mariners (7 games): 8 votes
Blue Jays (7 games): 5 votes
Mariners (6 games): 2 votes
Who will be named ALCS MVP?
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR): 13 votes
George Springer (TOR): 3 votes
Cal Raleigh (SEA): 3 votes
Julio Rodríguez (SEA): 3 votes
Josh Naylor (SEA): 2 votes
Alejandro Kirk (TOR): 1 vote
Trey Yesavage (TOR): 1 vote
Jorge Polanco (SEA): 1 vote
Andrés Muñoz (SEA): 1 vote
Our experts like Guerrero to win ALCS Most Valuable Player honors, and it’s not particularly close. After struggling in three prior trips to the playoffs, Guerrero is playing like a bona fide superstar. He tortured Yankees pitching in the ALDS, hitting .529 with three home runs, including a mammoth grand slam to open the floodgates in Game 2. It’s the sort of game-wrecking performance that Toronto expects from its franchise player — a $500 million man — and then some.
“Just as the regular season was owned by Cal Raleigh in so many ways, the postseason has been Vladdy’s,” said reporter Manny Randhawa. “He’ll continue raking to get the Blue Jays back to the World Series for the first time in more than three decades.”
Eight other players (three Blue Jays and five Mariners) earned at least one vote. Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez were the top vote-getters among Seattle players, with three apiece.
Source link
