Mariners to Battle the Astros Starting Next Week; Seattle to Host Game Three

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The Mariners' postseason run will continue in the American League Division Series.

After ending a 21-year playoff drought on the final day of September in Seattle, the club entered October looking to keep this memorable season going during a trip to Toronto in the best-of-three AL wild-card series.

How did the Mariners fare in their first postseason appearance in more than two decades?

They swept the Blue Jays in two games at Rogers Centre, securing a trip to the ALDS next week.

This will be the first time the Mariners will appear in the ALDS since that 2001 season, when they won their series against Cleveland before eventually losing to the Yankees in the AL Championship Series in New York.

The Mariners posted two thrilling wins over the Blue Jays on Friday and Saturday to secure the trip.

In Game 1 on Friday, Seattle starter Luis Castillo set the tone early, shutting down Toronto's offense in a brilliant outing as the Mariners built an early lead they never lost.

Castillo tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings in the win, and Eugenio Suarez and Cal Raleigh each drove in two runs to pace the club to a 4-0 victory.

For much of Game 2 on Saturday, it seemed the Blue Jays would answer with a win, but Seattle completed a stunning comeback late, eventually rallying for a 10-9 victory to win the series.

Mariners second baseman Adam Frazier doubled down the right field line with two outs in the ninth to drive in the winning run.

Raleigh, who also doubled earlier in the inning, scored on the play, once again guaranteeing this season will continue.



Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford each collected three RBI in the win, while Raleigh, Frazier and Jarred Kelenic also drove in runs.

Mariners rookie starter George Kirby, the eighth pitcher Seattle used in the game, worked through a scoreless bottom of the ninth to send the club on to the ALDS.

What happens next?

Following the thrilling two-game sweep on the road, the Mariners will head to Houston.

There, they will begin the best-of-five AL Division series against a division rival in the Astros, who ran away with the AL West title during the regular season.

The first two games of the series will be played at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Game 1 is set for Tuesday, and Game 2 for Thursday.

The Mariners are guaranteed at least one home game, which is set for Saturday (Oct. 15) in Seattle in Game 3.

Should the series need more than three games to decide, Game 4 would also be played in Seattle on Sunday (Oct. 16), while Game 5 would be played in Houston the following Monday (Oct. 17).

The games will be televised on TBS.

The Mariners and Astros met 19 times during the regular season in 2022, with Houston winning the season series, 12-7.

The winner of the ALDS moves on to the ALCS to play the winner of the other upcoming ALDS series between AL Central champion Cleveland and AL East champion New York.