Blue Jays Reinstate Bassitt, Scherzer for ALCS; Bichette Remains out
Toronto, ON – The Torontoโฃ Blue Jays have announced roster changes ahead of theโฃ American League Championship Series against theโข Seattle Mariners, activating pitchers Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. Shortstop Bo Bichette, however, remains off the roster asโ he continues to recover โfrom a knee injury.
bichette had been participating in running work โฃuntil Wednesday, but a high-intensity sessionโฃ on the bases Thursday showed limited progress.โ He “clearly looked to be in discomfort” following the brief workout, โขcasting doubt on his immediate availability, according to โคSportsnet. While Bichette hasโข been able to take batting practice and face live pitching, his knee is โreportedly “far from 100 percent.”
The Blue Jays could technically activate Bichette during the ALCS should another injury occur, but it is “far likelier” he won’t play until a potential World Series โappearance, with even 12 more days of rest โand rehab not guaranteeing a return during the postseason. Toronto has adjustedโ to playing without Bichette,with Gimenez filling the shortstop role,and the team successfully won the AL East โand โคdefeated the yankees in the โคALDS without him.
Manager John Schneiderโค opted โto leave Scherzer offโ the ALDS roster โคdue toโ a perceived matchup disadvantage against the yankees. Bassitt was sidelinedโข by back tightness, landing him on โคthe 15-day injured listโฃ on Septemberโค 19. Toronto navigated โคthe five-game ALDS with only three starters – Kevin Gausman, Yusei Kikuchi,โข and Shane Bieber – relying heavily on their bullpen, which โdelivered a key performance in the โขclinching game 4.
Gausman โis confirmed as the Game 1 starter, with Kikuchi likelyโ to start โขGame 2 and Bieber in โGame 3. The Blue Jays have not yet announced theirโ plansโค forโ the remaining starters,leaving uncertainty around how Bassittโข and Scherzer will be utilized.
to make room forโข bassitt and Scherzer, relievers Tommy Nance and Justin Bruihl were removed fromโ theโ roster. Nance posted a 1.99 ERA over 30 1/3 regularโ season innings but struggled in the ALDS, allowing a 13.50 ERA over 1 1/3 innings.Bruihl, who logged 13 2/3 innings with aโ 5.27 ERA, allowed two earned runs in his one-third of an inning of โฃALDS work.
