Blue Jays vs Mariners ALCS Preview: A Rematch Toronto Fans Needed

It’s finally here — the Blue Jays vs Mariners ALCS preview we’ve been waiting years to write. For Toronto fans, this matchup means more than just a step toward the World Series — it’s about redemption. Ever since that painful 2022 collapse, the Mariners have lingered like a shadow in the Blue Jays’ story. Now, they meet again, and the stage couldn’t be bigger.

As a Blue Jays fan, watching the Mariners and Tigers battle for the chance to face Toronto in the ALCS was captivating. Experiencing a playoff game that didn’t involve the Jays — but still carried their shadow — felt oddly freeing. It was tense, dramatic, and chaotic, yet never truly nerve-wracking. And despite the 15-inning madness, didn’t it always feel like Seattle’s game to win?

The Mariners are simply the stronger team — that much was clear. But for the Blue Jays, maybe that’s exactly how it should be. For this to truly be their season of destiny, they’ll have to confront the ghosts of 2022 head-on. This isn’t just another playoff series — it’s a reckoning. The rematch Toronto never wanted but absolutely needed.

If you caught yourself quietly rooting for the Tigers last night, you weren’t alone. That wasn’t disrespect toward Detroit — it was instinct. It was the lingering scar of what happened three years ago. But scars are reminders of what’s been overcome, not what still defines us.

Seattle brings elite pitching and a lineup that grinds out every at-bat. But this time, Toronto is ready. To win, the Blue Jays will need to push early, chase starters, and make the Mariners live out of their bullpen. They’ve been through too much, grown too much, to let history repeat itself.

The Jays are the better team. This is their moment to prove it — not just to the league, but to themselves. A win here wouldn’t just send them to the World Series. It would exorcise a ghost that’s lingered far too long.