MLB Announces Start Times for ALCS Games 1 and 2

The Toronto Blue Jays are back in the spotlight. Major League Baseball just confirmed the start times for the first two games of the 2025 American League Championship Series (ALCS).

With the Blue Jays advancing to their first ALCS since 2016, fans all over Canada and beyond are buzzing. This high-stakes showdown at Rogers Centre feels long overdue.

The series will see Toronto host either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners. The scheduling details are, as usual, tangled up with National League results, which only adds to the postseason chaos.

Blue Jays Set for ALCS Return

Toronto’s dramatic postseason run has really fired up baseball fans. Their ALCS berth came after a tense Game 4 win over the New York Yankees, sealing the series and sending them to the penultimate round before the World Series.

The home crowd at Rogers Centre gets playoff baseball starting Sunday, October 12. That’s a date you’ll want to circle.

Game 1: Primetime Opening at Rogers Centre

Game 1 of the ALCS kicks off at 8:08 p.m. ET (5:08 p.m. PT). That primetime slot means the whole country will be watching.

The Blue Jays will host either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners. We’ll know the opponent after Friday’s decisive Game 5 in their Division Series.

Game 2 Start Time Hinges on NLDS Results

We still don’t know exactly when Game 2 will start. It all depends on which team advances from the National League Division Series.

MLB tries to balance ALCS and NLCS broadcast windows, so fans get the best coverage. It’s a bit of a waiting game.

Possible Game 2 Start Times

Postseason planning means fans need to keep an eye on the NLDS results. Here’s what we know so far:

• If the Milwaukee Brewers move on to the NLCS, Game 2 in Toronto starts at 5:03 p.m. ET (2:03 p.m. PT).
• If the Chicago Cubs advance instead, first pitch for Game 2 will be at 4:38 p.m. ET (1:38 p.m. PT).

On the same day, Game 1 of the NLCS gets underway, with its start time linked to the same scenario. It’s all a bit of a puzzle, isn’t it?

Broadcast Coverage Across Canada

Canadian fans won’t miss a second, thanks to Sportsnet and Sportsnet+. Every ALCS game airs live, so Blue Jays supporters from coast to coast can ride every pitch and hope for a trip to the World Series.

Series Could Extend to October 20

MLB says the full postseason schedules for both the ALCS and the NLCS will come out later. If the American League series goes the distance, Game 7 could be played as late as October 20.

That’s nearly two weeks of edge-of-your-seat playoff drama. Who’s complaining?

Historical Significance of the 2025 ALCS

This marks the Blue Jays’ first ALCS appearance in nine years. For a franchise with legendary moments in the early 1990s and a diehard fan base, this return feels huge.

The 2025 roster has shown resilience and plenty of firepower. They’ll be a tough matchup for whichever AL Central or AL West team shows up.

Momentum from the Yankees Series

Toronto took down the Yankees in four games, locking in a spot in the ALCS and earning some valuable rest days. That could give them a bit of an early edge, especially with Game 1 at home and the crowd behind them.

Key Takeaways for Fans

The ALCS start times are finally out, and Blue Jays fans, here’s what matters most:

• Game 1: Sunday, October 12 — 8:08 p.m. ET at Rogers Centre.
• Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners will be the opponent, depending on Friday night’s outcome.
• Game 2: Monday, October 13 — Start time hinges on NLDS results (Brewers or Cubs).
• Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ will show every ALCS game.
• Series could wrap up as late as October 20.

Postseason buzz is everywhere. The Blue Jays are chasing their first World Series trip in more than thirty years, and Toronto’s just electric right now.

People all over the city, honestly all over Canada, are watching and hoping this team finally writes a new story in Jays history.

 
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