The Seattle Mariners remain ahead in the ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays even after a rough 13-4 loss at home in Game 3, and the contributions of several key bats are a big reason the M’s are still as close to the World Series as they have ever been in franchise history.
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At least one member of the 2-3-4 section of the batting order – Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco – has been in the middle of most offensive rallies for the Mariners in the postseason, and first baseman Josh Naylor and No. 9 hitter J.P. Crawford have chipped along the way, as well.
But the M’s could use more firepower after the Blue Jays’ dangerous offense that was mostly dormant in the first two games of the ALCS in Toronto showed up in Seattle with a vengeance on Wednesday night. So if Seattle is going to finish off the Blue Jays and reach the Fall Classic, it’s going to need some other hitters to heat up – and there are three who are capable but have yet to do much in October.
The Mariners hitters in question: leadoff man Randy Arozarena, slugging third baseman Eugenio Suárez and designated hitter Dominic Canzone.
Arozarena came into the postseason with a legendary October reputation due to his exploits in 2020 with the Tampa Bay Rays that included an ALCS MVP award. He set a record that year with 10 home runs in 20 games, the most homers ever in a single postseason, but he’s been surprisingly quiet so far in these playoffs. Though eight games, he’s hitting just .176 (6 for 34) with a .594 OPS, though he’s still been able to impact a few games with three walks, a .300 on-base mark and four stolen bases.
Also, there was a good sign in the eighth inning of Wednesday’s loss when Arozarena connected for his first homer of this postseason.
Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh go back-to-back!
(MLB x @CitizenWatchUS) pic.twitter.com/sOzVyH0Cvo
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2025
Next up is Suárez, who tied his career-high home run total with 49 in the regular season but never quite hit his stride after coming back to Seattle from Arizona at the trade deadline. Suárez is known to be streaky at the plate, and he’s been mostly cold in October, going just 5 for 33 (.152 average) with a homer and a double in eight postseason games. He does have a hit in three straight games and five of his last six, but he hasn’t had a multi-hit contest since Sept. 25 against Colorado.
Finally, we get to Canzone, the least experienced player getting regular playing time in Seattle’s lineup in the playoffs. The 28-year-old outfielder was stellar after returning to the Mariners from Triple-A Tacoma in June, finishing the regular season with a .300/.358/.481 slash line for an .840 OPS with 11 home runs in 82 games.
Canzone has settled into a DH platoon in the postseason with catcher Mitch Garver, with Canzone starting against right-handed pitchers and Garver facing lefty starters. Garver, who won a World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023, has contributed in limited action with a key RBI on a sacrifice fly in the 15-inning ALDS Game 5 victory last Friday and a triple in Seattle’s Game 2 ALCS win on Monday. Canzone, on the other hand, is just 1 for 15 with a walk and an RBI in October.
All of this is to say the Mariners have reached this point in the postseason without three key bats producing to the best of their abilities. If one, two or all three of them can chip in over the remaining ALCS games, it could make all the difference for Seattle.
Game 4 of the ALCS between the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays is set for a 5:33 p.m. first pitch Thursday night at T-Mobile Park. Extended pregame on Seattle Sports will begin at 2 p.m., with the official Mariners Radio Network pregame show starting at 4:30 p.m. with host Shannon Drayer. The TV broadcast will be on FS1. Click here for details on how to tune into Mariners Radio Network broadcasts from Seattle Sports.
More Seattle Mariners ALCS coverage
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• Jon Morosi: Four takeaways after Mariners’ Game 3 loss to Jays
• Stacy Rost: Two important reminders come out of Game 3 for M’s
• Mariners-Blue Jays has been the bizarro ALCS through three games
• Times, radio and TV details for Seattle Mariners’ home ALCS games
