MLB Playoffs: Mariners 2-0 in Toronto; Dodgers win NLCS opener

The race to the pennant is heating up on both sides of Major League Baseball. The Seattle Mariners have taken control of the AL Championship Series, while the Los Angeles Dodgers struck first in the NL Championship Series.

In the American League, Seattle’s bats and pitching have overwhelmed the Toronto Blue Jays. The Jays now sit on the brink of elimination.

Meanwhile, in the National League, Blake Snell threw a pitching clinic and Freddie Freeman hit a clutch home run. That gave the Dodgers an early edge over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Here’s where things stand, and what might be next.

Mariners Dominate Early in ALCS

The Mariners grabbed momentum fast, winning the first two games of the series on the road. That’s a pretty good omen—24 of 27 teams with a 2-0 road start in this spot have moved on.

Seattle’s 10-3 blowout in Game 2 really showed off their knack for cashing in on chances. They’re just not letting up.

Blue Jays Facing Offensive Struggles

Mariners fans are buzzing, but Toronto supporters are feeling the squeeze of October baseball. The Blue Jays have managed just four runs and eight hits in two games.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. can’t seem to buy a hit—he’s 0-for-7 so far. Rookie Trey Yesavage took the loss in Game 2, and while he’s still hopeful, the offense just isn’t there.

Manager John Schneider keeps telling his team to stay positive. Still, he knows they have to both slow down Seattle’s big innings and find a spark at the plate.

The pressure’s real. Toronto hasn’t made the World Series since 1993, and coming home down 2-0 isn’t what anyone wanted.

• Seattle leads the series 2-0 after winning both games on the road
• Historically, a 2-0 road start in a best-of-seven makes advancement highly likely
• Toronto’s offense has produced just 4 runs and 8 hits in two games
• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is 0-for-7 to start the series

NLCS Opens with Dodgers Victory

Over in the National League, the Dodgers edged the Brewers 2-1 in Milwaukee to take Game 1. Blake Snell was the story—he put up eight shutout innings, allowed just one baserunner, and struck out 10.

He looked completely locked in. That’s the kind of outing that sets a tone for a whole series.

Ninth-Inning Drama and Freeman’s Heroics

The Dodgers’ bullpen nearly let things unravel in the ninth. Roki Sasaki struggled, and the Brewers loaded the bases.

Veteran Blake Treinen came in and struck out Brice Turang to end the threat. Offensively, Freddie Freeman delivered—a huge solo homer in the sixth, his first of the playoffs, was just enough cushion for L.A. to hang on.

• Blake Snell: 8 innings pitched, 1 baserunner, 10 strikeouts
• Freddie Freeman hit his first playoff home run of 2024
• Blake Treinen’s strikeout in the ninth preserved the win

Looking Ahead in Both Series

The Mariners head back to Seattle with a chance to close out the ALCS. History’s on their side, but the Blue Jays are desperate to avoid a sweep and wake up their bats.

Game 3 could decide if Toronto’s season keeps going, or if Seattle finally gets to punch that ticket to the World Series. It’s hard to say, but it should be fun to watch.

NL Game 2 Pitching Duel

In the NLCS, Game 2 looks like a real pitching battle between Los Angeles’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta. Yamamoto’s precise control will face a disciplined Brewers lineup.

Peralta wants to keep Milwaukee in the fight by quieting the Dodgers’ dangerous bats. After that tense Game 1 finish, you’d expect another tight one.

Both series are packed with storylines — Seattle’s surge, Snell’s brilliance, you name it. Baseball fans really do have a lot to look forward to in the next few days.

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Here is the source article for this story: MLB playoffs: Seattle grab 2-0 lead in Toronto as Dodgers take NLCS opener