The Toronto Blue Jays will host the Seattle Mariners in the American League Wild Card Series opener at 4:07 p.m. ET on Friday, and while many fans are biting their nails in anticipation of the first postseason game at the Rogers Centre since 2016, others are crying foul about the mid-afternoon game time.

The #BlueJays and Mariners will play at 4:07 ET on Friday and Saturday.

If Game 3 is needed Sunday, that will be at 2:07 ET.

— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) October 5, 2022

Toronto residents are not pleased with the announced afternoon start times for the three-game series, reacting on social media with a cascade of angry messages.

Why the fuck does MLB hate the jays man fucking 4pm game????

— class war veteran 🫡 (@jonny_bruhvo) October 5, 2022

Several responses are directed at the MLB, including a handful accusing the league of treating a team that represents an entire country like a small market.

Of course the blue jays in the playoffs will have a 4pm game! The MLB hates them

— Blaine Farrell (@FarrellBlaine) October 5, 2022

Many fans are disappointed that they won't be able to catch portions, or in some cases, the entire game due to their work responsibilities.

Fucking joke. The entire country is still at work or just getting home. They do realize we have one team for Canada right? Make it at 7

— DJA (@6_4_3DoublePlay) October 5, 2022

It's got to be even more upsetting for fans who pre-purchased postseason tickets but are unable to get the afternoon off to attend the series opener.

Welp... To those who can't take off work and already have tickets this is a kick.

— Tyler (@TyCouper) October 5, 2022

And even if you manage to make it out of work before Alek Manoah throws the first pitch to a packed Rogers Centre, the city is pure gridlock on a Friday afternoon, and even worse on game days.

Most fans will be STUCK in TRAFFIC listening to the game on Friday!! Thanks MLB!! NOT!

— gary d (@garyborninmetz) October 5, 2022

The timing of the first pitch — right in the midst of school pickup hour — also makes it difficult for fans with children to tune in to watch the game or attend in person, though radio remains an option.

One word: radio

— fake blonde dean = back (@YungPerogi) October 5, 2022

Global TV’s Mike Drolet tweeted, "I half expected MLB to put the Jays at 1pm on Friday. I'm guessing 4pm was in deference to Seattle fans so they're not watching baseball over brunch. Primetime was NEVER going to happen, not with the Mets and Cards playing. Toronto is big market but not US big."

As Drolet's tweet suggests, the timing comes as little surprise to most fans. In recent postseason appearances, the Blue Jays have consistently been allocated garbage start times.

This includes all three home games in the five-game 2015 ALDS, with Jose Bautista's unforgettable bat flip homer.

Aside from the 8:08 p.m. Wild Card game, they played their entire 2016 playoff run with afternoon games.

That includes all three games in the 2016 ALDS versus the Texas Rangers, and all five games versus the Cleveland Indians (who, thankfully, have been renamed the Guardians).

Most recently, Toronto played both 2020 AL Wild Card games with mid-afternoon start times, so it should surprise absolutely no one to see the MLB snub Canada again.

Meanwhile, league darlings like the Yankees and Mets are given top billing with evening starts during primetime television hours.