AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: MARINERS VS BLUE JAYS

October 15, 2025

Dan Wilson

T-Mobile Park

Seattle Mariners

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Toronto - 13, Seattle - 4

Q. Obviously not what you wanted to see from George. Can you walk us through what you were seeing from him, and when did you think you needed to pull the string on it, and do you regret not going earlier?

DAN WILSON: I thought he came out one of the best fastballs we have seen the first couple innings. I thought the way it was coming out of his hand he looked great. Then they were able to get to some pitches on the plate a little bit in that third inning. And then, you know, I think it was four two-out runs there at that point, and trying to get him through that because he was throwing the ball so well.

But this is a team that has swung the bat well all year, and they didn't miss much tonight, and they were able to get to him.

Q. We saw Bryan go out to the bullpen in the third inning. Under what circumstances were you considering going to him?

DAN WILSON: I mean, I think a good chance for him tonight to just get out there and get acclimated in case that's a place where he comes out of later in the series. So a chance to just get comfortable out there and see what it's like. So that's really what it was about tonight for Bryan.

Q. It looked like the Blue Jays were aggressive with George early. What did you notice in their approach?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I mean, again, the first couple innings I thought he was dynamite and really came out at good location and good heaters coming out of his hand and was able to keep 'em in check. This is a team that's going to hurt you if you make mistakes on the plate. It looked like there were a couple that they were able to get to, and really that's where it was at that point.

But our guys, we get ahead, that's what we do, and they will continue to do that, but you still have to make good-quality pitches, and there were some that caught a little bit of the plate. I thought, again, the way he looked early on, I thought we were in good shape.

Q. Julio gets the homer early, but then Bieber really settles down there. What did you see from him in those middle innings, and did you see any adjustment he made?

DAN WILSON: I think, again, Julio getting a pretty good pitch to hit there in that first inning, and I thought he did a really good job of driving that ball on the line. Then I thought, as good pitchers do, they get a little bit more comfortable, they get settled in, their command comes back, their stuff comes to 'em a little bit, and it looked like he just was able to get comfortable, get into a bit of a rhythm and find his secondaries, and once that happened they were able to get the lead, and then he was able to protect it.

Q. Victor made that catch in the stands in the right field in the third inning and was shaking off his arm a few times and it kind of reminded me of the injury in April. Was it just a stinger? Is he okay?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, I think he was all right. But that's the kind of effort Vic gives and that's what you're going to see, especially this time of year he's going to continue to go all out. And you're right, it was sort of reminiscent of that play down in San Francisco, but great effort on his part to make that play.

Q. Obviously, you have a wave of emotion and momentum coming into this game, and then they put 13 runs on. You have a team that's bounced back a lot this season, but is there a message for that group, or do you just have the confidence that they know what they're doing and they can do it again?

DAN WILSON: This is a team that's done that a lot this year in terms of bouncing back, being resilient. We've used a lot of words for it, but tomorrow's going to be that opportunity again for us, and these guys know how to prepare and be ready for that, and I don't expect it's going to be an issue for them at all.

This is a team that has proven over and over again that fighting back, bouncing back, having resiliency is a part of their DNA and, yeah, tomorrow's a chance to do that again.

Q. After the five spot in the third inning, is any part of your calculation like you don't want to overuse your bullpen? Because as it turns out, now you've got -- like, your four best relievers didn't pitch tonight, so they're rested. Do you just want to sort of get George to take down more innings at that point?

DAN WILSON: I mean, again, I thought he came out, got a couple outs there in the fifth, and whether it was the fourth, I think, and looked like he was in better shape. The home run to Springer there with two outs, you know, you understand that there's going to be some solo shots here and there. But again, I thought he was throwing the ball pretty well, and then came out for the fifth and it was time I think at that point to go to the bullpen.

Q. Polo being lifted, was that just to give him rest at that point in the game or is he all good?

DAN WILSON: Yeah, no, he's fine. Just a chance to get off his feet and give Leo a chance to get an at-bat.