ALCS Game 5 was thrilling for the Mariners, as they showed just how thin the line is between loss and win. With the team’s season on the line and just six outs left, the Mariners’ Cal Raleigh effectively tied the game with his clutch homer before the towering opposite-field grand slam launched by Eugenio Suárez. And this caused chaos in the T-Mobile Park and sealed the Mariners’ 6-2 win over the Jays.

However, analysts are now warning that the Mariners’ approach against the Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. could now turn back to punish them. ESPN’s David Schoenfield highlighted that the Mariners’ repeated choice to intentionally walk Vladi, twice in vital moments, is a dangerous gamble and it won’t help the team for long.

So, Schoenfield said, “In Game 5, the Mariners intentionally walked Guerrero twice, once in the fourth inning with nobody out and a runner on second base — his second intentional walk of the postseason with nobody out, the first time that has happened since 2016 — and then in the seventh with two outs and a runner on second.”

He further elaborated on the issue, “The Mariners escaped both jams, but they’re playing with fire — and that’s whether they pitch to him or whether they put him on. It’s certainly not an easy decision for manager Dan Wilson with Guerrero so locked in, but eventually one of those intentional walks is going to backfire and potentially lead to a big inning.”

And Schoenfield has every right to give that statement. After a quiet start to the ALCS, the Jays slugger has been unstoppable. He is now slashing .457/.524/.971 with five homers this postseason. “He has just two strikeouts in 42 postseason plate appearances, and he has had 15 balls in play register over 100 mph, including six of his seven hits at T-Mobile,” David Schoenfield said. Vladi has the skill to make tough contact, and it makes all at-bats a danger for the rivals, and the Mariners know they are playing with fire.

Guerrero’s teammates also sense the moment. “He’s a special player, a special talent,” said Ernie Clement. “He’s earned every bit of success he’s having. To do it on the biggest stages — it’s a testament to his work”, Clement added. The Mariners need to balance celebration with caution, knowing Vladimir is poised to make the Mariners pay for the slightest mistake, also.

Still, as the Mariners basked in the glow of their Game 5 win, the focus fell on the next challenge, and the stakes could not be higher. With the Jays fighting for survival, Game 6 will be tough to handle, and the Mariners are now going to depend on Logan Gilbert.

Logan Gilbert’s defining test as the Mariners is focusing on a historic World Series berth

The Mariners are going to utilize the power of Logan Gilbert in Game 6. The star’s calmness and confidence make him an elite right-hander who now starts the biggest night in decades. His poise has earned Dan Wilson’s trust, and the manager praised Gilbert’s focus and desire to win. “Logan is a guy you love to give the ball to,” the manager said. “He’s that guy who has that focus, that desire to win, and he wants the ball in these situations. He’s ready for tomorrow for sure”, he added. Gilbert is also aware of what is at stake. “We’re nine long innings away from where we want to be”, he said. The star’s mental stability could be the team’s biggest weapon as the Mariners inch towards their first World Series appearances.

However, the Jays are not backing down. Trey Yesavage gets the bat in Game 6. He struck out 11 Yankees stars in a Division Series outing. John Schneider has confidence in him. The manager said, “He’s handled himself well and has the right mindset.” With George Springer projected to return after a painful hit-by-pitch, the Jays regain their leadoff spark, just in time.

Like Gilbert, Yesavage said he knows how rare a scope he is getting by starting Game 6. He also highlighted a discussion with Kevin Gausman. “This opportunity does not come up very often,” Yesavage said. “I was talking to Gausman the other day, and I said, ‘What’s the furthest you’ve made it in the playoffs?’ He said, ‘This is the furthest I’ve gone.’ And he’s been playing this game for a long time. So I’m very blessed to be in this situation,” he added.

As the Mariners are trying to make history, every decision will define the team’s legacy. Gilbert’s composure and the Mariners’ resilience have helped the team to reach this point; however, facing the Jays with Guerrero Jr. will give the Mariners no room for hesitation.