The Blue Jays won the ALCS in 2025 and both teams come in underachieving in 2026.
After an off day on Thursday, the Toronto Blue Jays begin a new series on Friday night with the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
It's a rematch of last season's American League Championship Series, which Toronto won in seven games thanks to George Springer's late home run in Game 7 at Rogers Centre.
We're a long ways from that moment, as both teams come in generally underachieving.
Toronto is 41-46 and in third place in the American League East while Seattle is 45-43 and in a tie for first place in the American League West.
Both teams have been beset by injuries, and here's the pitching matchups for all three games of the new series.
Luis Castillo (3-6, 4.93 ERA) vs. Dylan Cease (4-4, 3.02 ERA)
Castillo is not the same pitcher of old for the M's, but he's put together a nice enough streak lately. The veteran is 2-2 with a 3.03 ERA in his last seven games, four of which were starts. He's struck out 30 batters in 32.2 innings in that time.
Cease, in his first year in Toronto, has come exactly as advertised. He leads the American League in strikeouts and generally suppresses runs, but he has a hard time going deep into games. He lasted just 4.2 innings, but struck out 10, in his last outing vs. Texas.
Toronto Blue Jays starting starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) throws a pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn ImagesLogan Gilbert (6-5, 3.42 ERA) vs. Shane Bieber (0-0, 6.00 ERA)
The Mariners will be deploying the unusual "piggyback" strategy in this game, meaning Gilbert will only throw five or six innings, regardless of how he's pitching. He'll be followed by Emerson Hancock, which will keep both pitchers stretched out while also helping to give the bullpen a hopeful day off.
Gilbert has been on a nice roll of late, going 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last seven starts.
Bieber has totaled just nine innings in two starts since coming off the injured list, but he did give up just two runs in 5.1 innings in his last outing against Texas. He walked four, however.
*Because of the July 4 holiday, this game is being played in the day time, with a first pitch at 4:10 p.m. ET.
George Kirby (7-7, 3.81 ERA) vs. Trey Yesavage (4-3, 3.34 ERA)
Kirby has had ups-and-downs this season, but he did throw eight innings of two-run ball against the Angels on Monday night while striking out seven.
The 22-year-old Yesavage has three consecutive quality starts under his belt, including a 6.2-inning, one-run performance against the New York Mets on June 29.
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