Games 1 and 2 of the ALCS couldn’t have gone much worse for the Toronto Blue Jays. After dominating at Rogers Centre all year, the Jays were outscored 13–4 by the Seattle Mariners , dropping both games at home and heading to Seattle facing a 2–0 hole. Now, all eyes turn to Shane Bieber, the former AL Cy Young winner Toronto acquired at the trade deadline to be the stabilizing ace in moments just like this.

“I love it. It’s cool. It’s something to embrace,” Bieber said ahead of his Game 3 start. “Not many people get the opportunity to pitch in the ALCS in an environment like Seattle. So I’m excited for it.”

The Blue Jays brought Bieber in from Cleveland on July 31, trading top prospect Khal Stephen for a veteran who could steady a rotation led by Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt. B

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