**Blue Jays to Start Kevin Gausman in ALCS Game 1 Against Mariners** The Toronto Blue Jays have announced that Kevin Gausman will be their starting pitcher for Game 1 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the Seattle Mariners. The game is set to take place Sunday night at Rogers Centre. This decision marks the first indication of how manager John Schneider plans to structure the pitching rotation for the best-of-seven series. Following Gausman, rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage is expected to take the mound in Game 2, which falls on Thanksgiving Day. The Blue Jays aim to replicate their success from the American League Division Series (ALDS), where they won the first two games at home and ultimately defeated the New York Yankees 3-1 in the series. Gausman expressed enthusiasm about starting Game 1, highlighting the significance of the moment. "It was huge," he said last week. "We’ve lost seven straight in the post-season so to win one was nice. To win one at home in front of our fans that have been awesome all season was really special." In addition to Gausman and Yesavage, Schneider and the Blue Jays' management face decisions regarding the rest of the rotation before submitting the ALCS roster by 10 a.m. on Sunday. It is unlikely they will continue with a three-man starting rotation as they did in the previous series. This suggests that either Chris Bassitt or Max Scherzer, or both, may return to the lineup. The Mariners arrive at Rogers Centre after a grueling Game 5 against the Detroit Tigers, which lasted 15 innings and concluded with a 3-2 victory shortly after 1 a.m. The game took nearly five hours to complete, requiring the Mariners to utilize seven pitchers to secure 45 outs. Following a brief celebration, the team quickly traveled to the airport for their flight to Toronto. This ALCS marks the Blue Jays' first appearance since 2016, while the Mariners are competing for the league pennant for the first time in 24 years. Both teams are eager to make their mark in this pivotal series.