Mariners vs Blue Jays AL Wild Card Game 1 Picks and Predictions: Manoah Shuts Down Seattle

Toronto Blue Jays host Seattle Mariners in the American League Wild Card Game 1 on Friday. Luis Castillo will start for Seattle against Alek Manoah for Toronto. It's the first time the Blue Jay's have played a postseason game at home since the 2016 ALCS. Seattle ended a 21-year playoff drought.

Mariners vs Blue Jays AL Wild Card Game 1 is on Tuesday.

Alek Manoah will start the AL Wild Card Game 1 for the Blue Jays against Seattle. The game is at Rogers Centre. Seattle's lineup is not very good. Seattle ranks next to last in batting average and 15th in OPS. Tampa Bay Rays have a higher strikeout rate when facing right-handers in the American League. Blue Jay's team has a better strike-out-to-hit ratio than any other team in AL.

Tapia has 11 career at-bats against Castillo from his time in Colorado. He has seven hits in those ABs, which includes three extra-base hits. Tapia will have a great chance to get on base in this matchup near the bottom of the Blue Jays’ batting order.

Mariners vs Blue Jays AL Wild Card Game 1 is on Tuesday. My best bet is Tapia over 0.5 runs scored.

The Blue Jays are playing at home against Seattle in the AL Wild Card Game 1. The Blue Jay's offense is better than Seattle's, but their pitchers are better. Seattle relievers rank seventh in ERA and eighth in strikeout rate, while the Jays' relieving pitchers rank ninth in both of those categories.

Castillo will start for Seattle in the opening game of the wild-card series against Toronto. The team with the best record is favored to win. The game is expected to be close. I would pick the team that has the better bullpen. iReporter would choose the under. He would also pick Seattle to lose.

The Under is 6-0 in Alek Manoah’s last six starts against AL West opponents.

Luis Castillo is 8-6 with a 2.99 ERA in 11 starts for the Seattle Mariners. He has limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in six of his 11 games.

Alek Manoah is a perfect fit for the postseason with his fiery demeanor and awesome stuff. He's allowed just six earned runs over his last 54 innings and recorded eight straight quality starts.

Mariners vs Blue Jays weather. Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.