Daily Double Play: Your MLB Update

## ALCS Game 7 Recap: Blue Jays Rally to Clinch Pennant

In a dramatic finish to yesterday’s American League Championship Series, the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Seattle Mariners 4–3 in Game 7 to secure their first World Series berth since 1993. Trailing 3–1 after Julio Rodríguez’s leadoff homer in the third and a solo shot by Cal Raleigh in the fifth, Toronto’s season hung in the balance until the seventh inning. With runners on second and third and one out, veteran outfielder George Springer crushed a 96 mph sinker 381 feet into left-center, delivering a three-run homer that turned a one-run deficit into a 4–3 lead ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b916d00e6458a825b36c608a77328769?utm_source=openai)). The go-ahead blast marked the first time in MLB history that a team trailing by multiple runs in the seventh inning or later hit a go-ahead homer in a winner-take-all Game 7 ([kfyrtv.com](https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)).

Starter Kevin Gausman and relievers Chris Bassitt and Jeff Hoffman combined to hold the Mariners scoreless over the final innings. Gausman, who took the win, worked a scoreless top of the seventh after Springer’s homer, navigating around three walks to set up Hoffman’s two-out save in the ninth ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b916d00e6458a825b36c608a77328769?utm_source=openai)). Hoffman recorded his second postseason save, striking out the side in the ninth to silence a raucous Rogers Centre crowd and send Toronto fans into celebration ([kfyrtv.com](https://www.kfyrtv.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)).

## Key Player Performances and Statistics

George Springer’s three-run homer not only delivered the decisive blow but was his fourth postseason home run, raising his playoff total to 23 and solidifying his reputation as one of the game’s premier clutch hitters ([live5news.com](https://www.live5news.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)). Despite Seattle’s early spark, courtesy of Rodríguez and Raleigh, the Mariners’ offense was stifled after the fifth inning. Rodríguez finished Game 7 with two hits and one run scored, while Raleigh’s homer provided the only early cushion for Seattle ([live5news.com](https://www.live5news.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)).

On the mound, Gausman logged 1 1/3 innings of relief, allowing no runs and striking out one, improving his postseason ERA to 2.00 over four appearances ([truebluela.com](https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/106406/dodgers-blue-jays-trey-yesavage-iworld-series?utm_source=openai)). Bassitt, who pitched the eighth, worked around a two-out single to preserve the one-run lead. Hoffman’s flawless ninth inning—three up, three down, two strikeouts—highlighted his maturation into Toronto’s go-to postseason closer ([live5news.com](https://www.live5news.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)). For the Mariners, Bryan Woo took the loss, surrendering the three-run homer to Springer after inducing a sacrifice bunt to set the table ([live5news.com](https://www.live5news.com/2025/10/21/springers-homer-sends-blue-jays-into-world-series-with-4-3-win-over-mariners-game-7-alcs/?utm_source=openai)).

## Viewership and Fan Engagement

Yesterday’s Game 7 drew massive attention, averaging 8.91 million U.S. viewers across Fox and FS1 and peaking at 12.35 million during Springer’s homer, according to Nielsen data. Including all Fox platforms, viewership climbed to 9.03 million—a 32 percent increase over the 2023 ALCS Game 7—and, with an additional 6 million on Canada’s SportsNet, the total audience reached approximately 15 million ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/mariners-blue-jays-game-7-draws-highest-alcs-viewership-since-2017--flm-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai)). This made it the most-watched ALCS Game 7 since 2017, underscoring the renewed national interest generated by Toronto’s deep postseason run and the Mariners’ quest for their first-ever pennant ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/mariners-blue-jays-game-7-draws-highest-alcs-viewership-since-2017--flm-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai)).

On social media, hashtags #BlueJays and #Springer delivered Wild Card–style trending throughout North America. Fans inside Rogers Centre chanted “Let’s Go Jays!” in waves as each Toronto out came to bat, and viral videos of players’ on-field celebrations circulated widely, showcasing the emotional weight of the moment for a franchise returning to the Fall Classic after more than three decades ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/b916d00e6458a825b36c608a77328769?utm_source=openai)).

## Dodgers Poised for Third Title, World Series Preview

With the National League pennant already decided—courtesy of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLCS—the World Series stage is set for a showdown between the defending champion Dodgers and the resurgent Blue Jays. Los Angeles arrives with aspirations of becoming the first repeat World Series champion since the Yankees from 1998–2000 ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/dodgers-seek-modern-day-dynasty-with-third-championship-six-years-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai)). Manager Dave Roberts preaches a “one game at a time” mentality, even as headlines tout the Dodgers’ potential to join baseball’s modern dynasties ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/dodgers-seek-modern-day-dynasty-with-third-championship-six-years-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai)).

Star two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, fresh off an NLCS MVP performance where he struck out 10 and hit three homers in a single game, anchors the Dodgers’ lineup alongside Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The rotation features Ohtani, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow, while the bullpen boasts 23-year-old closer Roki Sasaki ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sports/dodgers-seek-modern-day-dynasty-with-third-championship-six-years-2025-10-23/?utm_source=openai)). Despite Toronto’s superior regular-season record, oddsmakers favor Los Angeles at roughly –260 to +220 for the Blue Jays, reflecting confidence in the Dodgers’ depth and postseason pedigree ([cbssports.com](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/world-series-schedule-dodgers-blue-jays-2025/?utm_source=openai)).

## Game 1 Matchup: Snell vs. Yesavage

Tomorrow’s Game 1 at Rogers Centre will pit veteran left-hander Blake Snell against 22-year-old rookie Trey Yesavage. Snell enters with a 2.35 ERA in 11 regular-season starts for the Dodgers and has allowed only two runs in 21 postseason innings with 28 strikeouts ([lonestarball.com](https://www.lonestarball.com/general/87372/snell-yesavage-named-game-1-starters?utm_source=openai)). Yesavage, a former first-round pick who debuted in mid-September, posted a 4.20 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 15 postseason innings and has shown poise in his three home starts at Rogers Centre ([truebluela.com](https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/106406/dodgers-blue-jays-trey-yesavage-iworld-series?utm_source=openai)). The contrasting styles—Snell’s veteran craftiness versus Yesavage’s rising-star dynamism—set the tone for an intriguing opener ([truebluela.com](https://www.truebluela.com/los-angeles-dodgers-news-notes/106406/dodgers-blue-jays-trey-yesavage-iworld-series?utm_source=openai)).

## Ticket Demand and Economic Impact

Ticket prices for the World Series have soared to record highs, reflecting intense demand following Toronto’s championship clinch. According to TicketNews, average resale prices for Game 1 at Rogers Centre stand at $653 (Ticket Club member) to $2,378, with some premium seats behind home plate listed for nearly $12,000 including fees ([ticketnews.com](https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/10/world-series-ticket-prices-hit-record-highs-as-dodgers-blue-jays-fans-drive-surging-demand/?utm_source=openai)). Similar surges are evident for Games 2 through 4, with non-member resale averages surpassing $3,800 for Dodger Stadium dates and upward of $1,600 for potential Game 7 in Toronto ([ticketnews.com](https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/10/world-series-ticket-prices-hit-record-highs-as-dodgers-blue-jays-fans-drive-surging-demand/?utm_source=openai)).

Fans expressed frustration over rapid sell-outs and inflated resale listings, with viral social media posts criticizing Ticketmaster for perceived unfair practices. Meanwhile, membership-based platforms tout “no-hidden-fees” pricing, presenting a stark contrast to traditional marketplaces that tack on service fees of 20–30 percent at checkout ([ticketnews.com](https://www.ticketnews.com/2025/10/world-series-ticket-prices-hit-record-highs-as-dodgers-blue-jays-fans-drive-surging-demand/?utm_source=openai)).

## Looking Ahead

As baseball’s Fall Classic approaches, all eyes turn to Toronto and Los Angeles. The Blue Jays, driven by a blend of seasoned veterans and breakout talents, hope to cap their 32-year World Series hiatus with a commissioner's trophy. Conversely, the Dodgers aim to cement a modern dynasty under Ohtani’s two-way stardom and a veteran core hungry for back-to-back titles. Game 1 tomorrow night will be the first step in what promises to be a historic matchup.