I’m on the Blue Jays today solely because of Alek Manoah pitching at his best of the season. The Blue Jays have won five of his last six and he hasn’t allowed a run in his last two starts. He’s playoff-primed and he’s cheap considering Luis Castillo was shelled in two of his last three starts at Kansas City and at Oakland. Seattle won the season series 5-2, but the July sweep of the Blue Jays was when Seattle was sizzling hot. Back the Blue Jays to win.

This might be the only game I play this series because Seattle probably has the starting pitching edge in Games 2 and 3, if necessary, and I generally don't bet road teams in the playoffs unless have a great reason to. I largely consider Luis Castillo vs. Alek Manoah in the opener a wash (maybe slight edge Toronto), but the Jays' lineup is night and day better than Seattle's. Toronto also may get back Raimel Tapia and Santiago Espinal from injury, while the M's are without the injured Jesse Winker. Shame that Seattle has ended MLB's longest playoff drought and doesn't get a single home game. Rogers Centre should be a zoo in Toronto's first home postseason game since 2016. The early afternoon start might hurt the Mariners slightly as they have been on the West Coast since Sept. 27. Seattle is 3-7 in its past 10 on the road.