Earlier than tonight’s ALCS Recreation Seven, Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider mentioned that shortstop Bo Bichette has been making “important progress” in latest days, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.
Bichette had an ideal 12 months on the plate however his common season was unceremoniously led to a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells in early September. Bichette suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and hasn’t performed since.
The Jays nonetheless managed to make the playoffs with out Bichette and have stayed alive within the postseason as properly. With every new playoff sequence, it has been a query of whether or not Bichette has healed sufficient to make the roster however he hasn’t been in a position to take action. If the Jays handle to carry off the Mariners tonight, there might be just a few extra days for restoration, because the World Sequence doesn’t start till Friday.
On the one hand, getting Bichette’s bat again within the lineup to face the Dodgers within the World Sequence can be an incredible enhance. He hit .311/.357/.483 for a 134 wRC+ this 12 months. Alternatively, it might result in some robust selections elsewhere. George Springer is banged up after fouling a ball off his knee. He has nonetheless been capable of function the designated hitter however he wasn’t taking part in defensively fairly often this 12 months even earlier than that knee damage.
Between Bichette and Springer, solely considered one of them could be the DH, so somebody must take the sector or sit on the bench if Bichette had been again. Moreover, somebody must be squeezed off the roster. Davis Schneider hasn’t been used a lot within the ALCS as a result of his platoon position isn’t as wanted in opposition to a Mariner membership with few lefties. The Dodgers have much more southpaws, so he would in all probability be extra helpful in opposition to that membership. If somebody like Isiah Kiner-Falefa or Myles Straw had been got rid of as a substitute of Schneider, that will lower into the membership’s protection, which has been a giant a part of their success this 12 months.
They may additionally subtract a pitcher in the event that they really feel they’ve sufficient depth to get to the end line with one fewer arm. Chris Bassitt is pitching out of the bullpen and has solely been used as soon as within the ALCS, so maybe it’s doable for the Jays to stay with out him or considered one of their different reduction arms.
The Jays would like to need to make these robust selections, as that will imply they’re each going to the World Sequence and have Bichette again within the combine. They clearly need to win tonight’s matchup first. If they’ll pull it off, then the main focus will once more flip as to whether or not Bichette get again to them.
For Bichette personally, it will clearly be nice to get again in there. On high of simply desirous to contribute to the group, he’s additionally an impending free agent. Demonstrating his well being earlier than the offseason may assuage some fears that golf equipment might have about him.
His offensive expertise is plain however he’s by no means been a powerful defender and has had a sequence of decrease physique accidents in recent times. Proper knee and quad accidents put him on the IL in 2023. Final 12 months, points together with his proper calf contributed to the worst season of his profession. He bounced again tremendously this 12 months earlier than this ongoing knee saga started. Some golf equipment will certainly query his capacity to stay at shortstop in the long run and can naturally have much less willingness to spend money on him, although taking part in within the World Sequence and arising with some clutch moments may assist him claw again some incomes energy.
One participant who received’t be an element within the World Sequence is right-hander José Berríos. Per Nicholson-Smith, John Schneider mentioned at present that the righty has resumed throwing however his season is completed. That’s not particularly shocking. He completed the season on the injured checklist as a result of elbow irritation. Even earlier than that, he had been nudged to the bullpen late within the marketing campaign because the Jays tried to maximise their rotation for the playoffs.
Nonetheless, the truth that he has begun throwing is sweet information for the 2026 rotation. The Jays are set to lose each Bassitt and Max Scherzer to free company. Shane Bieber will in all probability observe these two out of city, as he has a $16MM participant possibility he ought to flip down in favor of a $4MM buyout and a return to free company. On paper, subsequent 12 months’s doubtless rotation consists of Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Berríos, with guys like Eric Lauer, Bowden Francis, Angel Bastardo, Ricky Tiedemann and others within the combine. The Jays will in all probability be on the lookout for beginning pitching this winter and a severe damage to Berríos would have solely added to the necessity.
Picture courtesy of John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Photographs
