With a trip to their first-ever World Series on the line, the Seattle Mariners are going with right-hander George Kirby as their starter for Monday night’s do-or-die Game 7.
The Toronto Blue Jays will counter with two-time All-Star right-hander Shane Bieber.
Morosi: What stands out as M’s, Blue Jays head to Game 7
Seattle manager Dan Wilson and Toronto manager John Schneider both announced their Game 7 starters after the Blue Jays staved off elimination with a 6-2 win over the Mariners in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Sunday night.
“He’s the guy that we want in that situation and he’s thrown the ball well and it’s his spot,” Wilson said of Kirby. “George will be the starter and expect to have all hands on deck down there in the bullpen and ready to go at any point.”
Here’s a closer look at the Game 7 pitching matchup, including the potential starters who could come out of the bullpen.
A rematch of Game 3
It will be a rematch of the pitching matchup for Game 3, when the Blue Jays hammered Kirby in a 13-4 rout at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park last Wednesday.
Kirby got tagged for eight runs and eight hits in four-plus innings, including a trio of Blue Jays home runs from Andrés Giménez, George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Kirby’s eight earned runs tied an MLB postseason record for the most ever allowed by a starting pitcher.
Bieber pitched six strong innings in Game 3, limiting the Mariners to two runs and four hits. He gave up a two-run homer to Julio Rodríguez in the first inning, but held Seattle scoreless the rest of the way while retiring 17 of the final 19 batters he faced. He finished with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Kirby’s elimination game experience
This will mark the third time in Kirby’s career that he’s pitched in a postseason elimination game.
As a rookie in 2022, Kirby threw seven scoreless innings in Seattle’s 18-inning loss to the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the AL Division Series. And earlier this month, the 27-year-old Kirby threw five-plus innings of one-run ball in the Mariners’ 15-inning victory over the Detroit Tigers in a do-or-die Game 5 of the ALDS.
Kirby, a 2023 All-Star, will be making his fifth career playoff start. The previous four all came at T-Mobile Park.
Bieber, who was acquired by Toronto in a trade-deadline deal with the Cleveland Guardians, has never pitched in a postseason elimination game before. The 30-year-old will be making his sixth career playoff start.
‘All hands on deck’
While Kirby and Bieber are starting, both teams are expected to have extra ammunition in the bullpen for this do-or-die affair.
For the Mariners, Game 4 starter Luis Castillo and Game 5 starter Bryce Miller could both be available. Castillo threw just 48 pitches in his Game 4 start last Thursday, allowing three runs over 2 1/3 innings. Miller threw just 56 pitches in his Game 5 start on Friday, allowing one run over four-plus innings.
Bryan Woo, Seattle’s top starting pitcher this season, also could be available out of the bullpen. After being sidelined since Sept. 19 with pectoral inflammation, the 2025 All-Star returned to make a relief stint in Game 5. He threw two innings of one-run ball on 28 pitches, helping bridge the gap between Miller and the Mariners’ high-leverage arms.
For the Blue Jays, Game 4 starter Max Scherzer and Game 5 starter Kevin Gausman could be options out of the bullpen. Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, turned back the clock in Game 4 with 5 2/3 quality innings on 87 pitches. Gausman also threw 5 2/3 strong innings in Game 5, allowing only one run on 91 pitches.
Game 7 of the ALCS is set for 5:08 p.m. Monday at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Radio coverage will be on Seattle Sports, with the TV broadcast airing on FOX and FS1.
Seattle Mariners ALCS coverage
• Radio: Both M’s ALCS Game 7 and Seahawks on Seattle Sports app
• Morosi: What stands out as M’s, Blue Jays head to Game 7
• Recap: Blue Jays beat Mariners, force deciding ALCS Game 7
• Wrong first: Seattle Mariners to play in Game 7 for first time
• Seattle Mariners have had advantage when playing in Toronto
