The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized their roster for the American League Division Series, marking a significant moment as they prepare to face the New York Yankees. Notably excluded from the 26-man lineup are four key players: shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitchers Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and José Berríos.
Key Omissions from the Roster
Manager John Schneider confirmed these decisions, detailing the reasons behind each player’s exclusion:
- Bo Bichette: The 27-year-old shortstop has not resumed full athletic activity following a PCL sprain suffered on September 6. Bichette was injured during a collision at home plate. Despite missing 23 games, he still led the team with 181 hits and maintained a batting average of .311 for the season.
- Max Scherzer: The veteran right-hander, who turned 41, had a difficult season, posting a career-worst 5.19 ERA over 85 innings. Manager Schneider mentioned that although Scherzer could have been useful against a different opponent, his performance against the Yankees raised concerns, particularly following a start in September where he allowed four earned runs.
- Chris Bassitt: Bassitt has been recovering from back inflammation and is not yet fully stretched out after landing on the injured list on September 20. He concluded the season with a 3.96 ERA over 170.1 innings.
- José Berríos: The 31-year-old right-hander faced an elbow injury, resulting in a trip to the injured list for the first time in his ten-year career, impacting his role in the rotation.
Upcoming Game Plans
In light of these omissions, the Blue Jays have outlined their strategy for the series. Rookie Trey Yesavage will start Game 2 on Sunday, while veteran Shane Bieber is set to pitch Game 3 on Tuesday in New York. Yesavage, only 22 years old, previously made his MLB debut in mid-September and has shown promise, recording five earned runs, seven walks, and 16 strikeouts in 14 innings across three starts.
This series promises to be a defining moment for the Blue Jays as they tackle challenges both on and off the field, particularly with the absence of key players. As they face the Yankees in this pivotal postseason matchup, the team’s resilience and strategy will be crucial for advancing in the playoffs.
