Blue Jays Advance to World Series

By: Brian Frank

The Toronto Blue Jays are headed to the World Series for the first time in 32 years. Their dramatic Game 7 victory in the American League Championship Series over the Seattle Mariners—highlighted by George Springer’s clutch three-run home run in the seventh inning—set up a Fall Classic showdown with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I've said it before—besides my wife and kids, this is what I pour my life into,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said after Toronto’s 4–3 victory Monday night. “To be leading the team that’s going back to the World Series for the first time in 32 years kind of hits me a little bit. I couldn’t be happier for every single guy in that clubhouse—not just the players, but the staff too. We’re going to enjoy tonight big-time, realize how hard it is to get here, and then get back to work to get ready for the Dodgers.”

Guerrero accepts the ALCS MVP trophy from Tom Verducci of Fox Sports. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, .

Homegrown superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named ALCS MVP after slashing .385/.484/.846 with three home runs, three doubles, and a 1.330 OPS.

“I feel great—very proud of this, especially because I’m going to the World Series,” Guerrero said.

Guerrero elevated his play throughout the postseason—at the plate, in the field, and on the bases. His stellar ALCS performance came on the heels of a dominant ALDS against the Yankees, when he went 9-for-17 (.529) with three home runs, nine RBIs, and a 1.609 OPS.

“I was born here,” Guerrero said. “I grew up in the Dominican, and from the moment I signed here, I knew I was going to be here my entire career. I knew I had to make all the fans—the entire country—proud of me and my team. Like I always say, my challenge is to bring the World Series back to Canada.”

Springer’s decisive home run came with runners on second and third and one out in the seventh inning. The three-run blast to left sent Rogers Centre into a frenzy as Springer—now tied for third all-time in career postseason home runs with 23—joyously circled the bases.

The epic home run will go down in Blue Jays lore alongside other iconic postseason blasts: Joe Carter’s walk-off in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, José Bautista’s bat flip in Game 5 of the 2015 ALDS, Roberto Alomar’s Game 4 homer in the 1992 ALCS, Ed Sprague’s pinch-hit shot in Game 2 of the 1992 World Series, and Edwin Encarnación’s walk-off in the 2016 Wild Card Game.

“I’ve seen Georgie hit some homers, and I was just hoping he got enough of it,” Schneider said. “When he did, you kind of look around and see players and coaches reacting the way they did—kind of surreal in the moment, witnessing that historic swing for the organization.”

Schneider celebrates with the William Harridge Trophy. Photo Credit: Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

The Blue Jays have thrived all season on contributions from across their roster, and Game 7 was no exception. All nine players in Toronto's starting lineup had at least one hit.

Starters Kevin Gausman and Chris — who combined for 63 starts and only one relief appearance during the regular season—came out of the bullpen to help lock down the Mariners. Gausman worked a scoreless seventh, Bassitt followed with a perfect eighth, and closer Jeff Hoffman struck out the side in the ninth to seal the victory—and Toronto’s long-awaited return to the World Series.

“You try to learn from every experience you’ve been through, and Game 7 is a whole different animal where things get a little quirky,” Schneider said. “There comes a time where you just trust people—guys who’ve been there. For Kev to come out of the bullpen for the first time all year, that was huge. And Chris’s curveball to Geno (Eugenio Suarez)—3–and-2—that’s a ballsy pitch. That’s who he is. Then Hoff punches out the side—man, it was awesome.”

Guerrero beamed when talking about the efforts of his teammates.

“First of all, I love this team. I love my teammates,” he said. “When you see guys like Bassitt and Gausman, you know every time they take the field they give you all they have. That motivates me to give everything I have to win. When I saw those guys come in from the bullpen tonight—unbelievable.”

Guerrero and his daughter pose with the ALCS MVP Trophy. Photo Credit, Brian Frank, The Herd Chronicles

The job won’t get any easier for Toronto, which now faces the powerhouse Dodgers—a team with the league’s highest payroll and a roster loaded with future Hall of Famers.

“For me, every game is a challenge, every series is a challenge,” Guerrero said. “I know they have great players—so do we. But on the field is where everything matters.”

Schneider knows the road to a championship runs through baseball’s best.

“To get to where you want to go, you’ve got to beat the best,” he said. “Whether it’s talent, payroll, whatever you want to call it—they’re a damn good team. We saw them three games this year, and that’s it.”

“They’ve got Hall of Famers at the top of their lineup,” he added. “They’ve got really good starting pitching and really good relievers. I truly think the best two teams are left standing. I’ll never count my guys out of any series. It’s going to be fun—there’ll be some big swings and ebbs and flows, I’m sure—but I’m just thrilled these guys get the opportunity.”