𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

I covered the ALCS between the Blue Jays and Mariners, and after seven games, you think you know a team’s lineup. Nathan Lukes batted second for Toronto in every ALCS game, and he was a constant pest, going 9-for-27 (.333) with a .400 on-base percentage.

But Lukes is a left-handed hitter, and the Mariners started only righties in the ALCS. So with lefty Blake Snell starting Game 1 for the Dodgers tonight, it’s back to the bench for Lukes, with Davis Schneider starting in left field and Myles Straw in right.

Not that lefty/righty splits matter much to Snell:

• Snell vs. lefties: .224/.296/.286
• Snell vs. righties: .231/.310/.324

That’s from an 11-start sample in 2025, but it’s right in line with Snell’s career splits, too. He throws off-speed pitches almost 57 percent of the time – changeups, curveballs, sliders. He’s got a weapon for everybody.

Toronto will use only two left-handed hitters in its Game 1 lineup, and both are up-the-middle Gold Glove defenders: shortstop Andrés Giménez and center fielder Daulton Varsho. The way Snell is pitching, though, the Jays will take any slim advantage they think they can get.

Snell is 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three postseason starts, fanning 28 in 21 innings while allowing five walks and just six hits. It’s his time of year.

“He talked about it in the off-season, he talked about it in spring training,” president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “He’s talked about it all year: he loves these moments.”