Bo Bichette will not be playing for the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees. The talented shortstop has been dealing with a knee sprain and remains day to day. Blue Jays manager John Schneider mentioned that the decision on Bichette’s availability was down to the wire.
The series between Toronto and the Yankees will kick off with the first game at home on Saturday. Bichette sustained his injury on September 6 during a game against the Yankees while at home plate. Despite missing the final three weeks of the season, Bichette, who had 181 hits in 139 games, was leading Major League Baseball in hits. He finished second in hits and also boasted impressive stats with a .311 batting average, 18 home runs, and 94 RBIs.
In another development, Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, was notably absent from the Blue Jays’ 26-man roster for the AL Division Series. Scherzer’s exclusion came after a rough patch with a 1-3 record and a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts. The veteran pitcher had struggles, including a loss to the Yankees on September 7 due to tipping pitches with his change-up. Scherzer, an eight-time All-Star, had a 5-5 record with a 5.19 ERA during the regular season.
Additionally, Chris Bassitt, the leader in wins for the Blue Jays during the regular season, will also miss the series against the Yankees. Bassitt has been sidelined since September 18 due to lower back inflammation. The Blue Jays’ roster for the series includes thirteen pitchers, with Kevin Gausman set to start Game 1.
Toronto is aiming for their first post-season win since 2016, having faced three consecutive wild-card series sweeps between 2020 and 2023.