The Mariners relievers have posted solid performances over the last several postseason games
SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners are two wins away from doing something for the first time in its 48-year history.
The Mariners are up 2-0 in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays after winning Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-seven series by scores of 3-1 and 10-3 on Sunday and Monday, respectively. Both wins came at the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
This year is the fourth ALCS berth in Seattle's history. It's the first time out of those four that the M's have had a 2-0 advantage.
Games 3, 4 and (if-necessary) 5 will all take place at Seattle's home stadium of T-Mobile Park.
A big reason for the Mariners recent success, dating back to Game 5 of the American League Divisional Series against the Detroit Tigers, has been the bullpen.
Including the 3-2, 15-inning win against the Tigers on Oct. 10, Seattle has won three-straight playoff games. The relievers haven't allowed a run in any of them.
"This has been, down the stretch especially, a big strength of ours — has been the bullpen," Seattle manager Dan Wilson said in a News conference Tuesday. "I think the bullpen and the starters work very well together. And the way it has worked out has gone fairly smoothly. Like we've said before — you trust all of our guys whenever you give them the ball. They're gonna do the job, and (Monday) was no exception. A couple of guys giving us a couple of innings was huge and (allowed) the offense to break it open a little bit. It's a good bullpen series so far and looking for that to continue as we go forward."
Seattle has the second-best reliever ERA of team's still in the playoffs. The bullpen has a 3.25 ERA, which ranks behind the Milwaukee Brewers (1.74), which is currently competing in the National League Championship Series. The Mariners' starting rotation ERA (2.38) is also second among teams still in the postseason, behind the Brewers' opponents in the NLCS, the Los Angeles Dodgers (1.54).
Game 3 of the ALCS between Seattle and Toronto is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. PT on Wednesday at T-Mobile Park. George Kirby will start for the Mariners and Shane Bieber will start for the Blue Jays.
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