Julio

Rodriguez

Rodríguez poked a double down the left-field line against Toronto starter Shane Bieber to open the contest before Josh Naylor delivered a run-scoring single to right field to put Seattle ahead. He took Bieber deep in the third inning for his fourth big fly of the postseason. It wouldn’t be enough as the Mariners’ bullpen coughed up the lead in the late stages of the contest and Rodríguez wound up striking out against Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman to end it.

Naylor, who is batting .341 (15-for-44) with three homers this postseason, has been moved up in Seattle’s lineup with Jorge Polanco dropped to the cleanup spot as they attempt to make the World Series for the first time in the franchise’s 49-year history. The only other significant change involves Victor Robles in right field in place of Dominic Canzone. Here’s the full lineup: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Naylor (1B), Polanco (DH), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Leo Rivas (2B) and Robles (RF).

The Game 5 revamp worked out pretty darn well, so the Mariners are running it back tonight. The lineup: Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Dominic Canzone (RF) and Leo Rivas (2B).

Rivas started in Game 4 with Victor Robles shifting to the bench and that’s the same alignment that the M’s will use against Kevin Gausman on Friday evening. Here’s the full lineup: Julio Rodríguez (CF), Cal Raleigh (C), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Randy Arozarena (LF), Eugenio Suárez (3B), J.P. Crawford (SS), Dominic Canzone (RF) and Rivas (2B).

Rivas will get his first postseason start with a struggling Victor Robles heading to the bench as Seattle tries to mix some things up following a Game 3 rout at the hands of the Blue Jays. Here’s the full lineup: Randy Arozarena (LF), Cal Raleigh (C), Julio Rodríguez (CF), Jorge Polanco (DH), Josh Naylor (1B), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Dominic Canzone (RF), J.P. Crawford (SS) and Rivas (2B).

Rodríguez gave the Mariners a good start with a two-run blast off Shane Bieber in the first. It was all Toronto from that point on. It’s still nice to see the offensive fireworks from the 24-year-old, but the Mariners lead in the ALCS drops to 2-1, and they’ll need more fireworks from Rodríguez in Game 4 against Max Scherzer and the Blue Jays on Thursday.

Rodríguez crushed a tone-setting blast down the left field line against Blue Jays rookie sensation Trey Yesavage in the first inning to give Seattle an early advantage. It was one of three big flies in the contest for Seattle as they rolled to a lopsided victory in the Rogers Centre to take a commanding 2-0 lead with the best-of-seven series shifting to Seattle.

The Tigers had just scored two runs in the top half of the eighth inning to tie the game at 2-2. The M’s then rallied against Kyle Finnegan as Cal Raleigh smoked a one-out double into the right field corner and Rodríguez followed with an RBI double into the left field corner. He then advanced to third on an infield single by Jorge Polanco but was cut down at the plate on a fielder’s choice. Thanks to his heroics though, the M’s will head to Detroit with the series tied at one when they take on Jack Flaherty on Tuesday.

Naylor has yet to depart for Arizona to be with his wife for the birth of their first child, which means he’s still in there for a critical Game 2 showdown against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. The 28-year-old slugger figures to head out on paternity leave at some point during the best-of-five series. Here’s the full lineup: Randy Arozarena (LF), Cal Raleigh (C), Julio Rodríguez (CF), Jorge Polanco (2B), Eugenio Suárez (3B), Naylor (1B), Mitch Garver (DH), Victor Robles (RF) and SS J.P. Crawford.

The 24-year-old outfielder opened the scoring in the ballgame as he tagged Tigers’ right-hander Troy Melton for a 413-foot (109.5 mph EV) solo shot in the fourth inning. Rodríguez also delivered a game-tying RBI single in the sixth inning that knotted things up at two runs apiece. He also singled with two outs in the 11th inning to keep the Mariners’ hopes alive, but he would be left stranded as the tying run. The M’s now have their hands full staring at a 1-0 deficit and having to battle Tarik Skubal in Game 2 on Sunday.