Blue Jays even ALCS with 8-2 win over Mariners. Game 4 recap here.

The Toronto Blue Jays have erased a two-game deficit and evened the American League Championship Series with a 8-2 win over the Seattle Mariners in Game 4.

Toronto will now look to sweep the Mariners at their home ballpark on Friday and take the lead in the series.

The ALCS will return to Toronto on Sunday for Game 6 and a potential Game 7. 

Key details

• Andres Giménez hit a two-run home run in the 3rd to get the Blue Jays on the board for a second game in a row. He added two more runs in the 8th with a single.
• Scherzer pitches 5 2/3 with five strikeouts in his 500th career start and first since Sept. 24
• Luis Castillo pulled in the bottom of the 3rd in the second shortest start of his career
• Anthony Santander is out of the Blue Jays postseason roster after sustaining an injury. Joey Loperfido is taking his spot.

Here’s a recap of the game.

11:55 p.m. - Schneider recounts mound visit with Scherzer

Following the game, John Schneider was asked about what happened on the mound and said he’s been waiting all year to get yelled at by Scherzer.

“I think in that moment, you kind of relive every conversation I’ve had with him over the course of the year, and trusted him to make pitches. I was joking with him, I’ve been waiting for that moment since our zoom call in the offseason before we signed him,” Schneider said.

He added: “It was awesome. I thought he was gonna kill me. It was great. He locked eyes with me, you know, both colours as I as I walked out, and it’s not fake, that’s the thing. It’s not fake. He has this ‘Mad Max’ persona. But he backed it up tonight. The infielders had a good laugh too out there and he got the job done.”

When asked to elaborate what Scherzer told him, the Jays manager said, “Well, he started the conversation with I’m good, and I said, Are you sure? And I can’t really ... you could probably read lips, but I told him to execute. I’m leaving you in. I’m leaving you in to execute. And he did.”

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

FINAL SCORE: Blue Jays 8, Mariners 2

After heating up in Game 3, the Blue Jays offence continued the trend on Thursday night, scoring eight runs in 11 hits.

The best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2.

Kevin Gausman will pitch in Game 5 for the Blue Jays and the Mariners will counter with Bryce Miller.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

11:34 p.m. - Scherzer has 176 postseason Ks

11:02 p.m. - Gimenez drives in 2 more runs

Andres Gimenez hits a single to centre field to score Ernie Clement and Myles Straw, giving the Blue Jays an 8-2 lead in the top of the eigth inning.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

10:50 p.m. – Vladdy sets postseason record

With his home run in the seventh inning, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. set a franchise record for most postseason home runs in a single season with five. He was previously tied for the record with José Bautista.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.cajournalist

10:49 p.m. - Scenes from T-Mobile Park

During the top of the seventh inning, dozens of Mariners were seen leaving the ballpark. The Jays are up 6-2.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

10:45 p.m. - Vlad goes deep

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, his fifth this postseason.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

10:40 p.m. - ‘Mad Max’ done after 5 2/3 innings

After Scherzer walked Jorge Polanco with two outs and Josh Naylor batting next, Schneider takes the ball out of his starting pitcher.

Mason Fluharty walked Naylor and gave up a single to Eugenio Suarez, scoring Polanco. Naylor was tagged out at third base to end the sixth.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

10:32 p.m. - ‘Hang it in The Louvre’

10:17 p.m. - Scherzer through 5 innings

Max Scherzer gets through five innings, only giving up three hits and a home run. He has struck out four batters.

In the bottom of the fifth, with two outs, a runner on base, and facing the top of the Mariners lineup, Jays manager John Schneider visited the mound.

Scherzer appears to tell Schneider: “Yeah, I’m good. Yeah, let’s go!”

He would proceed to strike out Randy Arozarena to end the inning.

Earlier, Scherzer was seen elbowing pitching coach Pete Walker as he walked back to the dugout.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9:51 p.m. - Wild pitch scores another run

George Springer scores from third on a wild pitch and the Blue Jays have a 5-1 lead.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9:48 p.m. – ‘Really good intent with his swings’: Schneider on Giménez

Manager John Schneider checked in with Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal in the fourth inning to speak about the game so far.

“He’s just taking really aggressive swings right now,” Schneider said about Giménez. “I think understanding what the situation’s calling for… he’s definitely had some really good intent with his swings for the past couple of weeks.”

Schneider said as for Scherzer’s start… “so far so good.”

“I think he came out strong. Good velo, good stuff… I think he’s handling everything really well… you got to trust him to make big pitches.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

9:47 p.m. - Springer extends lead

George Springer doubles in left field to cash in Isiah Kiner-Falefa and extend the Blue Jays’ lead.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9:39 p.m. - Video review gives Jays 2nd out

9:29 p.m. - Bases-loaded walk

With the bases loaded, Gabe Speier walks Daulton Varsho and Nathan Lukes scores. Ernie Clement and Addison Barger strikes out to end the inning. Blue Jays are up 3-1.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9:19 p.m. - Castillo done after 2 1/3 innings

After walking Alejandro Kirk to load the bases with one out, Mariners manager Dan Wilson takes starting pitcher Luis Castillo out of the game.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9:13 p.m. - Gimenez goes deep again

For the second night in a row, Andres Gimenez hits a two-run home run to give the Blue Jays a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

The Jays infielder went deep in Game 3 to start a five-run inning.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

9 p.m. - Seattle opens scoring

Josh Naylor from Mississauga, Ont., hits a solo home run in the bottom of the second inning to put the Mariners up 1-0.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

8:33 p.m. – Game 4 underway in Seattle

George Springer leads off the Blue Jays in the top of the first inning as Game 4 is now underway.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

8:11 p.m. – ‘The winner of tonight’s game will advance to the World Series’: A-Rod

Former New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez made a bold prediction ahead of tonight’s Game 4.

“I believe the winner of tonight’s game will advance to the World Series,” he said. “I think it will be very difficult to win back in Canada if you’re Seattle. You have an opportunity now and you have to seize it.”

“Is hitting contagious? Well last night proved with a resounding yes that it is. 18 hits. Eight guys checked in. Six of those eight guys, multi-hit game.”

- Laura Sebben,CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

7:56 p.m. - 500 starts for Scherzer

7:13 p.m. - Joey Loperfido will replace Santander on ALCS roster

The Toronto Blue Jays say Joey Loperfido will replace Anthony Santander on the team’s ALCS roster after Santander sustained an injury.

“Dr. Gary Green, MLB’s Medical Director, confirmed the injury after a full review of the medical information,” the Blue Jays said in a statement Thursday night.

MLB postseason rules say that a club may request permission from the Commissioner’s Office to replace a player who is unable to play because of an injury.

Per the rules, it means Santander will be ineligible to play in the World Series, should the Blue Jays advance, even if he recovers.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:52 p.m. - ‘These guys aren’t going to feel bad’

Responding to the rumours that Anthony Santander could be removed from the Jays’ ALCS roster, Gausman was blunt with reporters.

“To be honest, it would suck for Tony,” he said. “We obviously would love to have him in there, but it’s part of the game, part of this point of the season. He’s really battled back to even get back, but it’s next guy up. These guys aren’t going to feel bad that he’s not in there, and they’ll probably be pretty happy to be honest.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:47 p.m. - ‘Fun to watch’: Gausman on Bieber

Gausman said watching Bieber pitch in Game 3 was “fun.”

“Sometimes you get punched in the face in the first and you got to change your mindset. (We) kind of saw that with with Shane yesterday. I thought he did a great job of obviously coming back. I joked with him after the game that he took this place (T-Mobile Park) to 120 and then took it to zero. It was a really cool performance for him and huge for our team. So, it was really fun to watch.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:45 p.m. - Gausman preparing to move around pitches in Game 5

Gausman said he plans to move his pitches around as he prepares to face the Seattle lineup again for the second time in five games.

“It’s more so about moving around the pitches,” he told reporters. “I only have three of them, you know. So, I’m not going to throw curve balls tomorrow. I’m just going to pitch the same way I have been all year. But, there is a level of knowing that these guys are going to make an adjustment from Game 1 to Game 5. So, it’s more so just in game, seeing their approach, and you have a mindset going in of what you’re going to do.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:28 p.m. - Kevin Gausman will start Game 5 for the Blue Jays

Schneider revealed that the ballclub will put Kevin Gausman on the mound in Game 5 on Friday. He previously started Game 1 of the ALCS against Seattle that ended in a 3-1 loss for Toronto.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:26 p.m. - ‘He’s got a pretty good idea of what he’s doing’: Schneider on Scherzer

When asked about Scherzer’s first inning struggles in September and how they’ll decide when to remove him from tonight’s game, Schneider said him and pitching coach Pete Walker will be paying attention to “execution.”

“I think what I’ll be looking at... is execution,” he said. “Max’s first innings have been highlighted, and I think any picture you look includes execution, and if that’s good, you kind of keep moving on down the road.”

“In terms of how long? I don’t know, we’ll see. I’ll say that about every one of our starters. But, I think you’re looking for him to be at a really high rate from the jump. And I think if he does that, he’ll be good... I think this is his 500th career start, so he’s got a pretty good idea of what he’s doing.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

6:20 p.m. - Santander could come off ALCS roster: Schneider

Blue Jays’ manager John Schneider said Santander was kept off of tonight’s lineup after experiencing more back pain in Game 3.

“He (Santander) was pretty stiff and sore after checked in with him this morning, and still felt it (pain), so we wanted to hold off as long as we could,” Schneider said.

Schneider also said they’ll have to see about his place on the ALCS roster should the issue persist.

“We’ll see what he can or can’t do the next couple hours, and go from there... I think getting checked out by staff, getting checked out by doctors, trying to put a timeline... is he good today? Can you buy a day? Things like that are all things that we have to consider so I think we’ll know more in a couple hours.”

Despite Schneider’s comments, Blue Jays beat writer for The Athletic, Mitch Bannon, said the team does intend to remove Santander from the roster “pending MLB approval,” citing sources.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

5:32 p.m. - Scherzer has a winning mentality: Kirk

Kirk said that despite Scherzer having a difficult September, he’s expecting to see him be the “same Max” on the mound tonight.

“I’ve seen the same Max that I see every day. I mean, the guy that wants to go out there and to win the game, to compete... that mentality, the winning mentality, I’ve seen that every day from him. So that’s what we expect for (tonight).”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

5:30 p.m. - Alejandro Kirk not worried about spot in Game 4 lineup

With Santander out of the lineup, Jays’ catcher Alejandro Kirk moves into the number four “cleanup” slot, but he told reporters his lineup location doesn’t change the game.

“I don’t pay much attention to that,” Kirk said through a translator. “For me, it’s normal game. I go out there and compete and then execute the same plays that I do every day.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

5:30 p.m. - Blue Jays are Scherzer’s sixth postseason team

When Max Scherzer takes the mound tonight, it will mark the sixth team he has played for in the postseason in his career.

He previously pitched in October for the Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, LA Dodgers, New York Mets, and Texas Rangers.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

5:20 p.m. - Blue Jays share photos of players arriving at T-Mobile Park

5:07 p.m. - Blue Jays announce Game 4 lineup

The Blue Jays have revealed their starting lineup ahead of ALCS Game 4.

Notably, Anthony Santander is not included, after being removed early from Game 3, and missing Game 2 due to lower back tightness.

Addison Barger will take his place in right field, Ernie Clement will replace Barger at third base, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa will take Clement’s spot at second.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

4:40 p.m. - Julio Rodríguez says Mariners can overcome tough losses

Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez, who hit a home run in Game 2 and 3, said tough losses like last night’s 13-4 blowout helps the team grow.

“It has become really a part of our identity,” Rodríguez told reporters. “We tell you, ‘one day at a time,’ and I feel like we all do pretty good jobs. We kind of just take games as they go and sometimes you can experience self losses and feel like you can you cannot avoid that, but I feel like something that you can really control is how you respond and how you show up the next day ready to compete again.”

“This season we kind of kept going forward and kept growing and growing.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

4:36 p.m. - Offence is the difference maker: Wilson

In response to a question about the Mariner’s offensive success against the Jays’ relievers, Wilson said it just comes down to what the offence is “able to do.”

“We’ve talked about what our guys do, what they do well, and they put up good at bats, both throughout and last night, with no exception,” he commented. “They play hard for nine innings, even in a one-sided game, and had some really good at bats late (last night). I think what we do as a club offensively really tells the story. At bats get base runners on base, create a little pressure on the defense, and being able to drive the ball in the gaps.”

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

4:30 p.m. - Bryce Miller will start Game 5 for the Mariners

Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson announced that Bryce Miller will take the mound for Game 5 on Friday.

Miller started Game 1 of the ALCS, and held the Jays to just one run and two hits in the 3-1 finish.

- Laura Sebben, CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist

4:13 p.m. - Bichette seen doing drills

Bo Bichette was seen doing some drills, such as side shuffles, high knees, skipping and jogging, on the field at T-Mobile Park hours before Game 4.

Bichette is not on the Blue Jays ALCS roster as he continues to recover from a knee injury he sustained last month.

- Bryann Aguilar, CP24.com journalist

4:04 p.m. - Scenes at Pike Place Fish Market

Blue Jays fans weren’t the only ones flying high at Seattle’s famous Pike Place Fish Market on Thursday after their blowout ALCS game 3 victory over the Mariners. Staff hurling salmon in front of a crowd of tourists sprinkled with Jays fans called the atmosphere “electric.”

One fishmonger was even offering up “smoked blue jay” to passersby as employees at the iconic spot had some fun with all of the Canadian fans smiling in the streets.

There was also a “bring on the Jays” sign stuck in among the salmon on display for sale.

Asked if he’s seeing a lot of Jays fans, the market’s Brando Law said he sure is. “Oh yeah, they’re everywhere.” And are they in a good mood? “Well, of course, they’re Canadian, right?” Law laughed.

- Andrew Johnson, CTV National News B.C. Bureau Chief

3:31 p.m. - Pearl Jam guitarist to perform U.S. national anthem

Mike McCready lead guitarist of Pearl Jam going through sound check. He’ll perform the American national anthem ahead of game 4.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

2:52 p.m. - Guerrero Jr. ties Bautista

Toronto announced Thursday that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is now tied with former Blue Jay Jose Bautista for most home runs (four) in a single post-season in franchise history.

Joey Bats still holds the title for most post-season home runs for the club at six.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca Digital Journalist

2 p.m. - ‘It is how they won’

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi spoke about the Blue Jays big Game 3 win during an appearance on the network on Thursday afternoon.

He said that the contributions the Blue Jays got from the bottom of their hitting order, particularly a game-tying home run from Andres Gimenez, could be a good omen for Game 4.

Adding to his point, Morosi said that the bottom three hitters in the Jays lineup - Giménez, Ernie Clement and Addison Barger - combined for six hits and four runs brought in on Wednesday night.

“It is not just the way the Jays won it, it is how they won,” he said. “They won in a way that left basically everybody one through nine feeling great as they arrived at the ballpark today for Game 4 and in a Game 4 like this, it truly does feel like it could be anyone’s series.”

- Chris Fox, Managing Digital Producer for CP24.com and CTVNewsToronto.ca

1:30 p.m. - What would Toronto fans give up for a World Series win?

The MLB asked fans of every team in the post-season what they’d give up to win the World Series and some of the answers from Jays fans may, or may not, surprise you.

“I’d shave my head,” says one woman dressed in Jays gear. “I’d give up pizza,” says another Jays fan.

“I’d give up my dog, I’d give up my friends,” exclaims one Jays fan wearing a City Connect jersey.

More than a few Toronto fans said they’d give up the Maple Leafs and some even claimed they’d part ways with their children to bring the Commissioners Trophy back to the city.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca Digital Journalist

1:26 p.m. - ‘It’s probably going to be an early hook’: Steve Phillips on Scherzer start

Steve Phillips was asked for his take on Scherzer starting Game 4 and said, “It’s probably going to be an early hook” for the veteran pitcher.

“Only because he’s not been very good to this point. If they can get four innings, with a run or two runs, I think that’s the best that they can hope for, and that gives them a chance to win the game,” the former baseball executive told his co-panelists on MLB Now.

Phillips noted that Scherzer has a 9 ERA in his last six games.

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca Digital Journalist

1:22 p.m. - Jays post video of Game 3 slugfest

The Toronto Blue Jays post a video montage of their Game 3 hitting spree to X on Thursday.

1 p.m. - Die-hard Mariners fans line up outside T-Mobile Park

A handful of Mariners fans are lined up more than seven hours ahead of Game 4 in Seattle. They’re still confident in their team and say they’re hoping the Jays’ bats don’t heat up for a second straight game. They say there were less Canadian fans at the ballpark yesterday than usual because locals are interested in the team now that they’re playing well. These fans say the atmosphere and friendships are what brings them out so early.

- Rahim Ladhani, CTV News Toronto Video Journalist

12:02 p.m. - ‘The Mound belongs to Mad Max’

The Jays will send Max Scherzer to the mound for Game 4.

The two-time World Series champion was notably left off the American League Division Series roster after a rocky end to his regular season, marred by early earned runs.

The 41-year-old has had lots of rest since his last start on Sept. 24., and said during Wednesday’s news conference that, “You want to have the ball in this situation.”

- Phil Tsekouras, CTVNewsToronto.ca Digital Journalist