SEATTLE – After taking the first two games of the American League Championship Series in Toronto, the Seattle Mariners return home to T-Mobile Park for Game 3 against the Blue Jays on Wednesday night.
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The Mariners are already in uncharted territory, as this marks the first time in their 49-year franchise history that they’ve held a multi-game lead in the ALCS. With a victory in Game 3, Seattle would take a commanding 3-0 series lead and move to the brink of the club’s first-ever World Series berth.
Right-hander George Kirby will start Game 3 on the mound for the Mariners, while trade-deadline acquisition and two-time All-Star right-hander Shane Bieber takes the hill for the Blue Jays.
The Mariners are rolling out their usual lineup against right-handed starters:
1. Randy Arozarena, LF
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Julio Rodríguez, CF
4. Jorge Polanco, 2B
5. Josh Naylor, 1B
6. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
7. Dominic Canzone, DH
8. Victor Robles, RF
9. J.P. Crawford, SS
BRING. THE. NOISE. #SeizeTheMoment pic.twitter.com/hH4pMrAcJI
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 15, 2025
Kirby will be making his third start of the postseason after starting both Game 1 and Game 5 of the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, both of which also came at T-Mobile Park. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed just three runs in 10 innings over the two starts, while racking up 14 strikeouts and only one walk.
In the deciding Game 5 of the ALDS last Friday night, Kirby pitched five-plus innings of one-run ball in the Mariners’ 3-2, 15-inning marathon victory. He struck out six, while allowing just three hits and no walks. Kirby will be pitching on normal rest Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays’ lineup features a few changes.
Most notably, outfielder Anthony Santander is back in the lineup after he was a late scratch for Game 2 due to back tightness. Santander is batting cleanup and playing right field after hitting eighth and playing left field in Game 1. Nathan Lukes swapped positions with Santander and is playing left field.
Also, third baseman Addison Barger moved down to seventh in the order after batting cleanup in the first two games of the series. Second baseman Ernie Clement also moved down one spot from seventh to eighth.
Here’s the Blue Jays’ lineup:
1. George Springer, DH
2. Nathan Lukes, LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B
4. Anthony Santander, RF
5. Alejandro Kirk, C
6. Daulton Varsho, CF
7. Addison Barger, 3B
8. Ernie Clement, 2B
9. Andrés Giménez, SS
Let’s do this. #WANTITALL pic.twitter.com/k1sD1o8S87
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) October 15, 2025
Bieber, a 2020 Cy Young Award winner with Cleveland, was acquired by Toronto in a July 31 trade with the Guardians. The trade occurred as the 30-year-old right-hander was in the final stages of rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in April 2024.
Bieber made his 2025 debut with Toronto on Aug. 22 and posted a 3.57 ERA in seven regular-season starts for the Blue Jays. His lone appearance this postseason was on Oct. 7, when he started Game 3 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees. He threw just 2 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and one unearned run on 54 pitches.
First pitch for Game 3 is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. Radio coverage on Seattle Sports will begin at 2 p.m. with an extended pregame. The TV broadcast will be on FOX.
More on the Seattle Mariners
• Julio is an AL Gold Glove finalist, but Cal Raleigh snubbed
• The latest on Mariners RHP Bryan Woo’s status for the ALCS
• Seattle Mariners have big advantage in ALCS that stands out
• Passan: Polanco’s heroics are how ‘World Series runs are built’
• Morosi on Mariners: Why ALCS may be very different back in Seattle
