Oct 19, 2025
3 min read
Toronto hopes to get its designated hitter back in Sunday's decisive Game 6 against the Seattle Mariners to avoid ALCS elimination.
Toronto - The Toronto Blue Jays' season is teetering on the brink. This year will be eliminated for the first time.
To make the American League Championship Series 2 of 3 games, the Jays must defeat the Seattle Mariners in Game 6 on Sunday and Game 7 on Monday.
The problem is not in Toronto.The team that loses game 5 falls behind 3-2 in the best of 7 series - like the blue day made on day 9 13 of 67).
Toronto's efforts to defy the odds, here's a look at the A's George Spripder Day, 5 bullpen games and a chance to impress the Jays:
George Spring is feeling "very good."
Springer Lee left the field in Game 5 after taking a fastball to the knee, but a midgame X-ray showed no fracture.The designer hitter and Toronto's leading man in the postseason felt better on Saturday.
"He's on the mend," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.
Springer doesn't have any boxes to check on Sunday or any pregame tests to pass. Once the veteran told Schneider it was OK, the manager said he would be in the lineup.
Bo Bichette, who is recovering from a knee torn, has not yet run the bases from its uncomfortable effort in front of the ALCS.If the Jays win the ALCS to face the Dodgers of Los Angeles in the World Series, Bichette has six days to return.
“Not on base yet,” Schneider said."He could do it today, but he's definitely improving. He's definitely improving with his shot."
Pondersan Schnaider's play about 5 'what-IFS'
Twenty-one hours after the transcontinental flight, Schneider appeared before reporters.In Toronto's Game 5 in Seattle, his late-game decisions were once again called into question.That's part of being a big league manager, especially one who comes under scrutiny in October.
Schneider makes thousands of individual decisions each season.They range from making low-cost substitutions to scheduling silly meetings and making serious cattle rustlers.Every decision that doesn't work, he regrets, Schnider said.
"There's always something going on in this game," he said.
When asked if Brandon Little's pitch in the eighth inning on Friday was a mistake, Schneider paused. He said he would "break out on social media" if he said it wasn't a mistake, but continued.
"I believe in my players," Schneider said."Looking back, I had a few other options. That's what I decided to do. So again, I have all the information I need and I don't think I made a mistake. Players have to go and perform. There's always a risk when you put a player in a situation where he's not going to do his job. That's part of the game."
Going a little because of the softening of other moderns can be ruined for many years.But if the Jays can participate in the World Series since 1993, the game on Friday the 5th will be forgotten.The victory will erase everything - if.
A rare opportunity for Trey Yesavage
Midway through the ALCS, rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage asked a question to 34-year-old Kevin Gausman.What is the deepest Gausman has ever played in the postseason?
"This is the furthest I've ever gone," the veteran said.
This year's postseason run is all Yesavage has ever known at the major league level.After taking the ball in 6 games against Seattle's Logan Gilbert, half of the MLB bullpen will be in the postseason.
But big games aren't guaranteed in October.Many pitches will never get the chance to say yes.Gausman is in his 13th season.Two of his sailors' opponents started the first Alcs.Chris Bassitt has never started an ALCS game in his 11 years north.
There is something unique about this blue jay.On Sunday, Sunday was closer to a world series title than at any time in the last 30 years.Yes, Toronto's dream season-ending loss.But, yes, as noted, there is a reason for this dream.
"This opportunity," said Ysavage, "doesn't come around very often."
