Question about the Blue Jays’ lineup for the American League Championship Series
Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed on Saturday that the team has not yet decided whether to include shortstop Bo Bichette on the roster for the American League Championship Series. Bichette hasn’t played since suffering a sprain in his left knee on September 6. The player ran for the first time on Wednesday, batted live on Friday, and ran the bases for the first time on Saturday. Game 1 against the Mariners is scheduled for Sunday night at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays have until 10 a.m. on Sunday to finalize their roster. Schneider suggested the club wouldn’t include Bichette on the roster if he isn’t available to play immediately, though he opened the door to carrying Bichette if he isn’t available to play every day.Toronto’s offense didn’t falter without Bichette, 27, in the American League Division Series. The Blue Jays scored 34 runs in the four games and punished the Yankees with 23 runs in the first two home games. But Bichette was one of the team’s top three hitters during the regular season. Bichette, a free agent this winter, recovered from a disastrous and injury-riddled 2024 season in which he recorded an OPS of .598 in 81 games to return to his All-Star level form in his platform year. He batted .311, tied for second in the American League, with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs, and an OPS of .840 in 139 games, although he was the worst defensive shortstop in the majors according to runs saved and defensive runs saved. Andres Gimenez, previously the team’s starting second baseman, started at shortstop for the Blue Jays in their divisional series victory over the Yankees. Utility player Ernie Clement also played shortstop for Toronto during the regular season after Bichette’s injury. Something the Blue Jays know for sure is that Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 for the second straight series against Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller. Schneider said Trey Yesavage (Game 2) and Shane Bieber (Game 3) will “most likely” follow Gausman, as they did in the ALDS. The Blue Jays carried 13 pitchers and position players in the ALDS, and Schneider indicated they will do it again in the ALCS. However, the composition could be different, with Games 3, 4 and 5 scheduled for consecutive days in Seattle and five games in six days scheduled to conclude the seven-game series. After carrying only three starters in the ALDS and deploying a bullpen game in Game 4, the Blue Jays could bring Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt, who finished the season on the injured list with back inflammation, as another possible option for length. Both starters threw in a simulated game earlier in the week at Rogers Centre.I’m trying to weigh, is he available every day? Is it off the bench? Obviously, you want his bat in the lineup. I think just getting to the point with him and getting his feedback, being part of this, how much, if he’s going to be committed. And if not, OK, and how that affects everyone else that we’re going to try to use and deploy.
John Schneider
Both feel good and are definitely ready and available. Different format, obviously, seven games, three in a row, all that kind of stuff. Yeah, I could definitely see them being a part of this.
John Schneider
