Everything falling into place for Blue Jays as ALCS reaches do-or-die Game 7

It was a exactly the way the Toronto Blue Jays drew it up in Game 6. Get a couple of runs early, have Trey Yesavage establish himself against the Seattle lineup, and let that defence shine. The Blue Jays 6-2 win over the Mariners in Game 6 kept their season alive and forced a Game 7 winner-take-all showdown at Rogers Centre on Monday night.

And also, just like they drew it up, it will be Shane Bieber on the mound to start for Toronto. The Blue Jays best laid plans at the trade deadline now coming to fruition.

Everything falling into place for Blue Jays as ALCS reaches do-or-die Game 7

He's already done it once this postseason, but Bieber is going to be asked to be the hero for a second time in less than a week for the Blue Jays. At this point, it's hard to argue against him. In Game 3 with the Blue Jays down 2-0 in the series, Bieber was outstanding.

After giving up an early two-run home run Bieber settled in and allowed just four hits over six innings while striking out eight Mariners hitters. He kept them in the game and allowed the offense to come out and do their thing, giving him plenty of support after a five run third inning and adding runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings as well.

When Bieber came out of the game, the Blue Jays were comfortably ahead 13-2 and had established that this wasn't going to be a cake walk of a series for the Mariners. In fact since Game 3, the Blue Jays have largely outplayed the Mariners over the last four games. Outside of one inning in Game 5 in which the Mariners put up five runs, the Blue Jays have seemingly been in completely control.

But momentum means nothing once Game 7 begins. From the first pitch, that game takes on a life of its own and all the ebbs and flows from the previous six games can be tossed out the window. Each team is down to it's final 27 outs and both the Blue Jays and the Mariners will be looking to overcome decades of frustration in one game.

The Blue Jays and the Mariners both entered the league at the same time. The 1977 expansion cousins haven't had a tremendous rivalry over the years, being on opposite sides of the continent and only meeting in the playoffs once before 2025. But this is a series that, no matter the outcome, should turn these two clubs into bitter rivals when its all said and done. The Blue Jays have two AL pennants and two World Series championships since '77 while the Mariners have neither.

At the trade deadline the Blue Jays added Bieber in the hopes that he would have an opportunity to pitch in a game as big as this, and thanks to their regular season record, Bieber has the chance to pitch that game at home.

The Blue Jays didn't land the big power bat they thought they might have needed, while the Mariners got two of them in Eugenio Suàrez and Josh Naylor, and while both players have come through for Seattle in big moments, it's been the Blue Jays 'next man up' mentality that have carried them to this point.

Letting the guys that have been there all year step up in big moments has been key to their success. Whether it's been George Springer setting the table, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. barrelling the ball all over the field, or Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes, and Alejandro Kirk who just keep putting balls in play. Then there's been the pleasant surprises of Andrés Giménez and Addison Barger coming through with big home runs.

The Blue Jays have constructed a talented roster that has gotten them to within one win of the World Series. They have a lineup that is clicking on all cylinders and they are giving the ball to the guy they coveted in the middle of the season. Everything has fallen into place for the Blue Jays, now they just have to execute those best laid plans one more time.