We’re two games into the 2025 League Championship Series, and it’s time for our initial impressions based on what we’ve seen on the field.
seattle mariners Heading home with a 2-0 ALCS lead after defeating toronto blue jays on consecutive days to start the series.
In the NLCS, the defending champions los angeles dodgers took a 2-0 lead against milwaukee brewers,
What’s been most notable so far – and what’s next for World Series hopefuls? Our MLB expert weighs in.
ALCS: Mariners vs. Blue Jays
What has surprised you the most so far?
Jorge Castillo: The assumption was that Seattle’s pitching staff, exhausted after an exhausting ALDS that ended with a 15-inning Game 5 on Friday, would need at least Sunday’s ALCS opening game to reset. But the Mariners pitchers did not relent. game 1 starter bryce miller Recovering from a difficult first innings situation, the Mariners set the tone by giving six crucial innings. The bullpen starred in Game 2 when Eduard Bazardo, carlos vargas And emerson hancock Each threw two scoreless innings. Tuesday’s off day will only help the Mariners as the series shifts back to their dreaded home ballpark.
Jeff Passan: Blue Jays lack competitive hitters. Yes, the Mariners have very good pitching. But the Blue Jays – whose high-quality, work-by-count, bad-pitch approach throughout the season helped them clinch the AL East championship – were practically swinging at Miller’s pitches in Game 1 and weren’t much better in Game 2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.Is hitless. are that dolton varsho, andres gimenez And davis schneider,
With a lineup as deep as the Mariners’ and a pitching staff as susceptible as the Blue Jays’, this postseason has proven that four runs in two games isn’t going to do it.
How can the Mariners close this one out at home?
Castillo: It’s not easy to hit home runs at T-Mobile Park – the Mariners hit 134 on the road and 108 at home – but long balls often make the difference in October. Such was the case in Game 2 when the Mariners scored eight of their 10 runs on three homers – two three-run home runs and one two-run shot.
The Blue Jays surrendered 209 home runs during the regular season – the sixth most allowed in the majors and the most allowed by a postseason team. If the Mariners continue to make mistakes on the fence, the Blue Jays’ chances of winning four of their next five games are slim to none.
Pasan: Don’t consider this a coronation. Too much has happened in Mariners history to ever be in doubt that something could go horribly wrong. They have been in existence for 49 years and have never made the World Series.
Actual answer: Cut down on punchouts. The Mariners are striking out more than 30% of the time over the first two games, and that has resulted in fewer opportunities than Toronto, which is at 13%. As George said, as long as Seattle is hitting home runs, this could be controversial. However, in the absence of this, they can be saved by putting the ball in play.
What can the Blue Jays do to bring this series back to Toronto?
Castillo: It starts with scoring more runs. The Mariners’ pitching staff, tired, has silenced the offense that demolished the Yankees’ pitching last week. The Blue Jays scored only four runs in two games in Toronto. All were scored in the first two innings. In Game 2, the Blue Jays went 1 for 28 with three walks after the second inning.
Nathan Lukes And george springer Is the only Blue Jays with multiple hits in the series. Guerrero is 0-for-7 with a walk after finishing the ALDS 9-for-17 with three home runs. Varsho is 0-for-7. addison barger And andres jimenez Are 0-for-6. george springerThe leadoff home run in Game 1 was the only ball Toronto hit over the fence.
The Blue Jays scored 21 runs in a three-game sweep of the Mariners during the regular season. But he was at home in May and T-Mobile Park is a pitcher’s paradise. If Seattle doesn’t wake up their bats it will be a quick series.
Pasan: Just look at Game 1 of the NLCS. The Dodgers’ offense is struggling, and it doesn’t really matter blake snell Eight of the most spectacular innings you will ever see. and even though shane bieber And max shazerThe Blue Jays’ starters in Game 3 and Game 4, while nowhere near Snell’s caliber today, are both former Cy Young winners who have pitched in big games. Seattle’s pitching is too good for Toronto to win this series via slugfest. So the Blue Jays have to beat the Mariners at their own game: solid starting pitching and enough relief to backfill.
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What’s the most you’ve learned so far?
Bradford Doolittle: The Dodgers’ starting pitching has been lights-out. It’s not just Blake Snell and all the zeros yoshinobu yamamoto put up; The Brewers’ hitters looked ahead of them most of the time. Milwaukee had a clear plan to attack Yamamoto as often as possible in Game 2, but after jackson chourioFirst-pitch, leadoff homer, it didn’t work. Yamamoto continued to attack and the Brewers did nothing with him.
Jesse Rogers: Dodgers starting pitching went from iffy to effective in the blink of an eye. One reason Milwaukee went 6-0 against LA during the regular season was that they faced a team that had consolidated its starting staff. Dave Roberts also admitted to “playing it slow” to prepare Snell for the moment.
Even Chourio’s first home run off Yamamoto in Game 2 couldn’t change the narrative. Yamamoto threw a 111-pitch complete game, and gave up only two more hits and a walk after that long ball. On most teams, tyler glasnow And shohei ohtani There will be a No. 1 and No. 2 pitcher, but the Dodgers will field them this weekend against Milwaukee at Dodger Stadium. It’s an embarrassment of riches – and it could doom the Brewers’ chances of winning their first World Series title.
What do the Dodgers need to do to close out this series at home?
Bradford Doolittle: Just ride the wave. The LA rotation has become the story of the postseason so far, and even though the Dodgers’ offense doesn’t match the pitchers in terms of dominance, it is the hottest team at the moment. And this offense isn’t going to grind like this forever.
Jesse Rogers: Keep pitching the way they are and maybe move Ohtani to the plate. Not that they needed him that far, but if he starts to unravel, this series won’t be coming back to the Midwest. close to roki sasaki It is also likely that he will be more comfortable in his home surroundings than in Game 1. All signs point to the Dodgers winning a short series.
What do the Brewers need to bring this series back to Milwaukee?
Bradford Doolittle: They need traffic on the bases, especially early in games. He was not able to showcase his athleticism against the Dodgers because no one was getting on base. Reach base, hopefully Glasnow and Ohtani will be demoralized and reach the LA bullpen by the fourth or fifth inning. The formula isn’t complicated, but the way the Dodgers are going, executing much of it is a problem.
Jesse Rogers: Entering a crooked number will help. Somewhere along the way, they need one of those Brewers innings – one that forces the defense to make mistakes while using its speed and ability to wreak havoc on the basepaths. It’s easier said than done against this Dodgers starting staff, but if they can get to the bottom of LA’s bullpen, they have a chance. This is the way forward for brewers.
