The 2026 American League Championship Series had it all. Big hits. Late leads. Crushing errors. And a Game 7 finish that fans will talk about for years.
Toronto beat Seattle 4 games to 3. But the stats behind this series tell a story that goes way deeper than the final score.
In this article, you’ll get every key player stat from all seven games. You’ll see who came up big, who fell short, and why Toronto ended up going to the World Series while Seattle went home.
Let’s break it all down.
The Series at a Glance
Before we get into player stats, here’s a quick overview of how each game went.
| Game | Date | Winner | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Oct 12, 2025 | Toronto | TOR Win | Toronto |
| Game 2 | Oct 13, 2025 | Toronto | TOR Win | Toronto |
| Game 3 | Oct 15, 2025 | Seattle | SEA Win (13-4) | Seattle |
| Game 4 | Oct 16, 2025 | Toronto | TOR 8-2 | Seattle |
| Game 5 | Oct 17, 2025 | Seattle | SEA 6-2 | Seattle |
| Game 6 | Oct 19, 2025 | Toronto | TOR 6-2 | Toronto |
| Game 7 | Oct 20, 2025 | Toronto | TOR 4-3 | Toronto |
Seattle held a 2-0 lead in the series after Game 5. They were eight outs from the World Series in Game 7. But Toronto came back — and came back hard.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – The MVP Who Took Over
If you watched this series, you know one name stood above the rest: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
He was named the ALCS MVP, and the numbers back it up completely.
- 6 home runs in the series — all in the 2025 postseason
- His 6th homer tied José Bautista and Joe Carter for the most in Blue Jays postseason history
- He had 4 hits in Game 3 alone, nearly hitting for the cycle
- In the crucial Game 6, his leadoff homer in the 5th inning made it 5-0 and knocked Seattle starter Logan Gilbert out of the game
- Born in Montreal, he arrived at Game 7 wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey — the Guerrero Jr. energy was sky-high all series
Guerrero was not just hitting home runs. He was also making plays in the field. In Game 6, he started a key 4-6-3 double play when Cal Raleigh hit a sharp grounder at 101 mph with the bases loaded. It killed a big Seattle threat.
What makes his numbers so special? He did this against some of the best pitchers in the league. And he saved his best swings for the moments that mattered most.
Cal Raleigh – Seattle’s Bright Spot in a Dark Series
On the Seattle side, Cal Raleigh was the one guy who kept showing up.
- 5 home runs in the ALCS
- Led the entire major leagues in 2025 with 60 regular-season home runs
- 10 career home runs in 15 games at Rogers Centre — an incredible number for a road stadium
- In Game 7, he hit a solo shot off Louis Varland to make it 3-1 Seattle in the 5th
But it wasn’t all great for Raleigh. In Game 6, he went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts and also committed an error that led to a Toronto run. Those two sides of the coin — power vs. costly mistakes — defined Seattle’s whole series.
| Cal Raleigh – 2026 ALCS Highlights |
|---|
| Home Runs: 5 |
| Regular Season HRs: 60 (MLB-best) |
| Career HRs at Rogers Centre: 10 in 15 games |
| Game 6: 0-4, 3 K, 1 Error |
| Game 7: Solo HR (5th inning) |
Julio Rodríguez – Flashes of Brilliance, Too Many Quiet Nights
Julio Rodríguez is one of the most electric players in baseball. But this series was a mixed bag for him.
- In Game 7, he opened with a double and scored on a Josh Naylor single in the 1st inning
- He hit a leadoff homer in the 3rd to make it 3-1 Seattle in Game 7
- But he also had a key error in Game 6, a drop in center field that let Toronto score unearned runs
- In the ALDS before this series, he hit just .174 with a .588 OPS — a rough stretch that carried into the ALCS
Rodríguez had the talent to win games. But the series showed he still has growing to do in big moments. When he was good, Seattle moved. When he made mistakes, Toronto punished them.
George Springer – The October Veteran Who Delivered When It Counted?
George Springer has been in big moments before. And in Game 7, he reminded everyone why.
- Hit a go-ahead 3-run homer in the 7th inning off Eduard Bazardo — the swing that sent Toronto to the World Series
- The homer gave Toronto a 4-3 lead after Seattle had been ahead 3-1
- It was his 22nd career postseason homer, tying him with Bernie Williams for 4th on the all-time list
- In Game 3, he had already gone deep to help spark Toronto’s big comeback in Seattle
Springer was dealing with a bruised right kneecap from Game 5 — he was hit by a 95.6 mph pitch and had to leave that game early. He gutted it out for Game 7. That 3-run shot is what playoff legends are made of.
George Kirby vs. Shane Bieber – The Pitching Matchup in Game 7
Game 7 came down to pitching — and it didn’t go well for either starter.
George Kirby (Seattle)
- Allowed 1 run and 4 hits in 4 innings
- Walked 1, struck out 3
- Seattle’s defense hurt him with errors behind him
- He had a rough Game 3 earlier: 8 runs, 8 hits, 3 homers in just 4 innings
Shane Bieber (Toronto)
- Allowed 2 runs and 7 hits in 3⅔ innings
- Walked 1, struck out 5
- He had pitched well in Game 3 — 6 innings, 4 hits, 2 runs, 8 Ks — so his Game 7 start was a short one
Once the starters left, Toronto’s bullpen took over. And that’s where the game was really won.
Toronto’s Bullpen – The Real Heroes of Game 7
Here’s something many fans overlook. Toronto’s bullpen in Game 7 was flawless.
- Kevin Gausman (usually a starter) made his first relief appearance since 2021. He worked a scoreless 7th inning, getting around 3 walks.
- Chris Bassitt threw a perfect 8th inning
- Jeff Hoffman struck out all 3 batters in the 9th for the save — his 2nd save of the postseason
That’s three elite pitchers closing out the biggest game of the year without giving up a single run. Toronto got the win because of those arms.
Trey Yesavage – The Rookie Who Shocked Everyone?
You can’t talk about this series without mentioning Trey Yesavage, the young Toronto starter.
- In Game 6, he struck out 7 batters in 5⅔ innings
- He had a near-70% whiff rate on his dominant splitter in the ALDS vs. the Yankees
- In the ALDS, he threw 5.1 no-hit innings with just 2 baserunners and 11 strikeouts
- He was so dominant that most teams — including Seattle — had never seen him pitch in a game
Yesavage went 2-1 in the 2025 postseason. At 26 games old in October, he looked like a future star.
Seattle’s Costly Errors – The Stats That Hurt Most
Toronto didn’t just win because they hit better. Seattle lost because of their glove.
Here’s the error breakdown from the final three games:
| Game | Seattle Errors | Unearned Runs Allowed |
|---|---|---|
| Game 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Game 6 | 3 (season-high) | 2 |
| Game 7 | 1 | 1 |
In Game 6 alone:
- Julio Rodríguez dropped a ball in center field
- Eugenio Suárez had an error at 3rd base
- Cal Raleigh made a throwing error
Compare that to Toronto: the Blue Jays made just 4 total errors across all 10 playoff games that year. That’s clean, championship-level defense. Seattle’s glove issues were the difference between winning and losing.
Eugenio Suárez – From Hero to Heartbreak
Eugenio Suárez had the most extreme swings of any Seattle player.
- In Game 5, he hit a grand slam off Seranthony Dominguez in the 8th inning — a stunning play that gave Seattle a 6-2 lead and pushed them to a 3-2 series lead
- He drove in 8 total RBIs in the series
- But in Game 6, his error at 3rd base let in unearned runs that helped swing the game back to Toronto
That grand slam was the highest point for Seattle fans all series. The error in Game 6 was one of the lowest.
Josh Naylor – The Quiet Glue for Seattle
Josh Naylor didn’t hit the flashiest numbers. But he was consistent when it mattered.
- Hit his 3rd postseason home run in Game 6
- In Game 7, his RBI single in the 1st inning plated Julio Rodríguez to give Seattle an early lead
- Had 4 total RBIs in the ALCS
He was the kind of player who keeps a lineup honest. Not a superstar, but reliable.
Alejandro Kirk – The Clutch Blue Jays Catcher
Alejandro Kirk had a wild regular season stat to carry into the playoffs.
- He was hitting .413 (19 for 46) with 8 RBIs in 14 career games at T-Mobile Park — Seattle’s stadium
- Hit a 3-run homer in Game 3 to extend Toronto’s big lead
Kirk thrived against Seattle pitching. His track record at T-Mobile Park is one of the most striking individual-vs-team numbers in recent postseason history.
Head-to-Head History: Mariners vs. Blue Jays
How does this series fit into the bigger picture between these two teams?
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| All-time games played (regular + postseason) | 446 |
| Seattle all-time record vs. Toronto | 214-232 (48.0%) |
| Regular season record only | 209-228 (47.8%) |
| Postseason series played | 2 |
| Postseason series wins each | 1-1 |
| 2025 season record (all games) | SEA 5-8 vs TOR |
| Longest Seattle winning streak vs. TOR | 8 games (1999–2000) |
The 2022 AL Wild Card Series went to Seattle. The 2025 ALCS went to Toronto. So they’re tied at one postseason series each. The rivalry is very much alive.
Why Seattle Lost?: 3 Key Reasons
- Errors at the worst time. Three errors in Game 6 — a season-high — directly cost them 2 runs and the game.
- Bullpen wore out. Seattle’s pen posted a 4.33 ERA in the ALCS. Good, but not great. Toronto’s late-game trio of Gausman, Bassitt, and Hoffman was cleaner when it mattered most.
- Julio Rodríguez went cold. Seattle needed their young star to be great in Games 6 and 7. He had moments — the Game 7 homer was electric — but he also made key mistakes in the field.
Why Toronto Won?: 3 Key Reasons
- Vladdy Jr. was unstoppable. Six home runs. ALCS MVP. He hit when Toronto needed him most, every single game.
- The bullpen trio closed perfectly. Gausman, Bassitt, and Hoffman combined for 3 shutout innings in Game 7. Toronto never gave the lead back.
- They play clean defense. Only 4 errors in 10 playoff games. You can’t beat a team that doesn’t beat itself.
Fun Facts and Records From the Series
- Seattle played their first-ever Game 7 — they were the only MLB franchise with no prior Game 7 appearance in the postseason before 2025
- Toronto won their first AL pennant since 1993 — a 32-year drought ended
- Guerrero Jr.’s 6 postseason HRs in 2025 broke the Blue Jays all-time postseason record (previously held by José Bautista and Joe Carter)
- Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs in the regular season — the most in all of baseball in 2025
- Game 3 featured 8 combined home runs, matching the postseason record set in 2015 and 2017
- George Springer’s 22nd career postseason homer put him 4th all-time, alongside Bernie Williams
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2025 ALCS between the Mariners and Blue Jays? Toronto won the series 4 games to 3. The Blue Jays won Game 7 by a score of 4-3 on October 20, 2025.
Who was the ALCS MVP? Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He hit 6 home runs in the series and was the driving force behind Toronto’s offense.
How many home runs did Cal Raleigh hit in the ALCS? Cal Raleigh hit 5 home runs in the series. He led the entire major leagues in 2026 with 60 regular-season home runs.
What happened in Game 7? Seattle led 3-1 in the 7th inning. George Springer hit a 3-run homer off Eduard Bazardo to give Toronto a 4-3 lead. Toronto’s bullpen held on from there. Final score: Toronto 4, Seattle 3.
Who hit the big home run to win Game 7? George Springer. His 3-run shot in the 7th inning turned a 3-1 Seattle lead into a 4-3 Toronto lead. It was his 22nd career postseason homer.
Did Seattle make any big mistakes in the series? Yes. In Game 6, Seattle committed 3 errors — a season-high — and allowed 2 unearned runs as a result. Rodríguez dropped a ball in center, Suárez had a 3rd base error, and Raleigh made a throwing error.
What was Eugenio Suárez’s big moment? He hit a grand slam in the 8th inning of Game 5 to give Seattle a 6-2 lead and push the Mariners to a 3-2 series advantage. He drove in 8 RBIs total in the ALCS.
Was this Seattle’s first time ever in a Game 7? Yes. Before 2025, Seattle was the only MLB franchise that had never played in a postseason Game 7. Game 7 of the 2026 ALCS was a historic first for the Mariners — even in defeat.
Who pitched for Toronto’s bullpen in Game 7? Kevin Gausman (7th inning), Chris Bassitt (8th inning), and Jeff Hoffman (9th inning). All three threw scoreless innings to close out the game and the series.
How is the all-time head-to-head between these two teams? In all games (regular season + postseason), Toronto leads the all-time series 232-214. In regular season games only, Toronto leads 228-209.
Final Thought
The 2026 ALCS between the Mariners and Blue Jays was a true postseason classic, defined by explosive hitting, clutch pitching, and game-changing mistakes. Toronto ultimately came out on top because they delivered in the biggest moments — from Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s dominant bat to George Springer’s decisive Game 7 homer and a lockdown bullpen performance. Seattle showed incredible power and promise, especially with Cal Raleigh’s historic season, but costly errors and inconsistent execution proved too much to overcome. In the end, this series wasn’t just about who played better overall — it was about who made the fewest mistakes when everything was on the line.
