The Blue Jays put together an impressive win in four games over the Yankees in the ALDS this past week, and it’s all the more impressive when one considers that they managed to pull it off without one of their star players. Shortstop Bo Bichette has been on the injured list since early September due to a left knee sprain, and did not participate in the Division Series as a result. With the ALCS against the Mariners scheduled to start tomorrow, it seems a decision on Bichette’s status has not yet been made.
Earlier this afternoon, Ben Nicholson Smith of Sportsnet relayed that, per Jays manager John Schneider, Bichette hit against live pitching yesterday and ran the bases today. Schneider added that how Bichette responds to that uptick in activity will help to determine whether or not he’s rostered for the ALCS. Keegan Matheson of MLB.com expanded on that, noting that Schneider suggested the decision on Bichette would be one of the last ones they would make before rosters are announced tomorrow morning. Per Matheson, Bichette still appeared to be experiencing discomfort when he ran the bases today, and he suggested that Bichette might be confined to a DH-only role if he does return to action.
As Matheson notes, a DH role for Bichette would push George Springer into the outfield and force a fellow outfielder like Nathan Lukes or Anthony Santander out of the lineup. That’s surely only something they would do if they were confident that Bichette was healthy enough to contribute substantially at the plate. On the other hand, if Bichette isn’t quite ready to return but making enough progress, Toronto could opt to roster him even if he wouldn’t be available for Game 1. That would come with substantial risk, however, as if he was placed back on the injured list at some point in the ALCS he would not be eligible for the World Series if the Jays advance.
Moving on to the rotation, Toronto made the somewhat bold decision to leave both Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer off their ALDS roster. Both veteran starters were left off for understandable reasons; Scherzer struggled badly late in the year, while Bassitt wasn’t fully stretched out after being placed on the injured list in late September. That was fine for a five-game set where the team could lean heavily on Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber to handle starting duties, but Schneider acknowledged to reporters (including Nicholson-Smith) that both Bassitt and Scherzer will be in the mix for the club’s roster given the need for “more length” in a seven-game series. All of those roster decisions will be made by 9am CT tomorrow morning, when rosters are due for both clubs.
The concern has to be that even if they get Bo back in the lineup, he’s clearly not going to be 100% since he’s still running in pain, and after a month off, there are no guarantees he’ll be any good at all. While the offense would be better off with a healthy Bo, forcing Springer into the outfield and Lukes or Santander to the bench just to shoe horn the ghost of Bichette into the lineup seems foolish.
They’re probably better off rolling with the lineup they’ve got, give Bichette another week to recover, and trust that they can get to the World Series where he’ll hopefully be ready to join in.
It’s not as if the offense was gasping for air last round.
As much as I’d love to see Bo in the lineup, your take is also how I lean. The chances of him being ready to contribute are slim, and while I’d love to have Santander pushed to the bench, that also limits the potential of him helping.
There is also the argument that Santander may be better suited to start and get 2-3 chances to help, vs a guy like Lukes who may not need to start to help the team.
“Trust they can get to the world series” is the worst opinion I’ve ever heard. Bo was the best hitter in MLB before he got hurt so 75% of what he brings is an asset. And, they need all hands on deck to just get to the world series, not this wait and see approach.
If he cant go then he can’t go but id take him at 50% over santander.
Bo is good but he is not “the best hitter in MLB.”
He had the most hits in MLB BY FAR when he got hurt and still had the most up until about 10 days before the season ended. That makes him the best hitter in MLB in my book but don’t let facts get in the way.
Bo was the best hitter on the Jays up until his injury.
Because everyone knows that it’s all about the number of hits you get. The quality of those hits is irrelevant. Is that why Luis Arraez is the most highly sought-after player in the league?
LOL
181 hits in 139 games and you jokers are saying he wasn’t the best hitter this year. 35% of those hits were extra base hits. Keep hating ladies! Facts speak for themselves
If he’s the best hitter in MLB, surely he’ll receive a record-breaking contract this offseason, right?
And keep calling people names. It really strengthens the quality of your argument
Youre using straw men and what if arguments. I provide stats that back up my opinion. Get it together.
And yes, he is about to land a huge contract. Probably not 12 years due to his injury history and inconsistent fielding but still hes going to get paid!
You provide one stat: batting average. And just looking at that one stat, he’s not even the league leader (Judge is, and it’s not even close).
Moreover, take virtually any other stat related to hitting and Bichette is not in the top 3. Therefore, your assertion that he definitively is the best hitter in baseball is a weak claim
Hey mouth breather the only reason Judge had such a high batting average is because he is walked so much and that doesn’t count as an AB. Bichette had more hits in 2025 and he played 20 less games LOL
Best HITTER!
@coldbeer
You’re just showing why BA is such a bad stat to assess offensive production. Bo did have a wRC+ in the 130’s, which is really good, but Judge a wRC+ over 200.
I didnt say bichette was the best offensive producer, I said he was the best hitter! Which he was!
Logan Webb is the BEST pitcher because he pitched the most innings in baseball.
Nice try. Who had the most strikeouts?
@coldbeer
I honestly can’t tell whether you’re joking or are completely oblivious…
DH Bichette, bench Santander and leave Lukes in the lineup; he’s earned it!
And what do you do with Springer?
Play him in LF, Lukes in RF.
I don’t care how much money they spent on Santander, if Bichette is good to go then it’s a no brainer to leave Santander off the ALCS roster. Toronto can’t afford to keep hoping he suddenly finds his swing. Plus, Lukes has been clutch all year including the wild card series and is an infinitely better defender than Santander.
Tony’s swings have looked decent so far .
Bo hasn’t faced game speed pitching in 5 weeks . Bo is very prone to long steaks in either direction . Its a huge gamble hoping he can find his swing right away , at least with Tony you know where his swing is and currently with where is he there’s 1 swing power potential at this moment . I’m leaving Bo off since I don’t see them carrying 3 DH and hope he can be game ready for world series (assuming jays get thru the gauntlet of pitching Seattle is about to roll out )
Yeah, I hear that. I was saying IF they think Bichette is ready. If not, then yeah let’s see if Santander can light it up.
It does suck to think the season he had, the amount of time he’s been a jay that he could have played his last game without anyone realizing in the moment and could potentially finish his jays career never being on the field for a playoff win .
I’d be happy if they kept Santander as a threat off the bench.
Mad max is done. C-bass, Biebs, Gaus and Savage should be enough length. 1-2-3-4-1-2-3 (1Gaus-2Yesavage-3Bieber-4Bassit)
I wouldn’t be surprised if they ran out another bullpen game in Game 5. It worked against Boston late in the season. Worked against the Yankees on Wednesday. Plus it gets the Yesavage in Game 7 rather than Bieber.
Why would you want Yesavage for 7 when you can have him for 6 in the OP plan?
Getting an effective bullpen game out of this crew is luck, not a foolproof plan that should be repeated unnecessarily.
Since you posted this, Sportsnet posted that Bichette had a set back running the bases today
My guess is he won’t be on ALCS roster
To be fair I first heard about the base running set back about 4 hours ago but Yaa I agree with ya I don’t think he makes unless they take Tony off the roster
We are better off without Bichette in the lineup..
Bo should sit out the series due to injury
Toronto learned from a similar situation with Devon Travis.
Bring Bo back for the world series.
The team has picked up it’s hitting pace in playoffs. They put ball in play, more than the other remaining teams.
The pitchers will return. Their experience will be valuable to the team. It’s going to be a good long series.
The Bichette situation is nothing like the Travis situation
Yeah that was a weird comparison.
Remember the Mariners won’t be intimidated playing at Rogers, taking two there in 2022 Wild Card. I know it was 3 years ago but largely the same set of players. It’s going to be a fun series no matter what, I’m stoked.
And to boot, Rodríguez was in his 1st yr with Kirby & Castillo in Seattle. Raleigh was in his 2nd season along with Gilbert & Muñoz for the Mariners.
Besides Castillo all had very little experience and still went into Rogers to get the series.
Both teams are more experienced and different then who they were then.
With all the innings played in game 5, I see TOR having the advantage in game 1 cause they have been getting “fat” for a few days, haha.
Cant wait for it to start, it will be very entertaining.
It will be an all around doozy!! Who knows, the Mariners could come in with crazy adrenaline energy in Game 1. Game 2 could be the hangover game. Looking/hoping to win one in Toronto before returning to Seattle at least. I was hoping for this matchup once it was confirmed Seattle was getting in.
Santander is like the Paul George of Baseball just being cooked in year 1 of a big FA deal.
Is France on the roster for the ALCS?
Offense looked good in the last series. Be tough to mess with it unless I knew Bo was full go for however long the Jays last.
Unsurprised to see Canadians saying they need more length.
@DerekBellsMoistMoustache
29 Americans on the 40 man actually.
Verlander looked better than Scherzer this year; Maybe that will motivate him!