The Toronto Blue Jays are heading to the American League Championship Series, where they’ll face off against their 1977 expansion cousins, the Seattle Mariners. The matchup was sealed Friday night after Seattle edged the Detroit Tigers 3–2 in an epic 15-inning Game 5 thriller, capped by a walk-off RBI single from Jorge Polanco.

Game 1 kicks off Sunday at 8:03 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre, with Game 2 following on Monday before the series shifts to Seattle midweek. The Jays enter the ALCS after a dominant 3–1 series win over the Yankees, powered by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.529 average, nine RBIs) and standout pitching from Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage.

Toronto, the AL’s top seed at 94–68, will look to continue its edge over the Mariners, having gone 4–2 against them during the regular season. Seattle, meanwhile, surged late to take the AL West with a 90–72 record, earning its first ALCS berth since 2001.

Both clubs share expansion roots, but their October histories differ: the Blue Jays are chasing a third AL pennant and their first World Series trip since 1993, while Seattle is still seeking its first-ever appearance in the Fall Classic.

Injury updates offer optimism for Toronto — Bo Bichette may return from a knee issue, and Max Scherzer or Chris Bassitt could bolster the pitching staff. For the Mariners, Cal Raleigh headlines the lineup after a 60-homer, 125-RBI season, alongside All-Stars Randy Arozarena and Bryan Woo.

As Canada’s team prepares to defend home turf, all eyes turn to Toronto, where the next chapter of this expansion-era rivalry begins.