Blue Jays’ Surprising ALDS Roster Excludes Bichette, Scherzer, Bassitt, Berríos
The Toronto Blue Jays Adjust ALDS Roster for Yankees Showdown
The Toronto Blue Jays have officially revealed their roster for the American League Division Series (ALDS), set to face off against the New York Yankees. Notably absent from the 26-man roster are star shortstop Bo Bichette and key starting pitchers Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, and José Berríos.
Bo Bichette’s Injury Impact on the Blue Jays
Manager John Schneider confirmed that Bo Bichette is still recovering from a PCL sprain, preventing him from running or hitting at full velocity. This injury occurred during a collision with Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate on September 6. Despite missing 23 games, Bichette has been a crucial part of the team’s success, leading the Blue Jays with 181 hits and maintaining a .311 batting average for the season. In nine match-ups against the Yankees, he slashed .281/.314/.500.
Max Scherzer’s Omission Explained
Veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, age 41, is another significant absence from the roster. Schneider noted that while Scherzer might have made the roster against the Boston Red Sox, his performance against the Yankees was a concern. This season, Scherzer has struggled with a career-worst 5.19 ERA over 85 innings. In a September tilt against the Yankees, he allowed four earned runs in just over four innings. Despite his storied career as a three-time Cy Young winner with a 3.78 postseason ERA, his recent struggles have led to this decision.
Injuries Affecting Other Pitchers
Schneider mentioned that Chris Bassitt has not been adequately stretched out to compete after landing on the 15-day injured list due to back inflammation on September 20. The 36-year-old finished the regular season with a 3.96 ERA and an impressive 8.8 K/9 across 170.1 innings. Additionally, José Berríos is sidelined with an elbow injury, marking the first time in his decade-long career that he has been placed on the injured list after losing his position in the rotation in late September.
Rookie Pitcher Set to Shine in ALDS
With these absences, rookie Trey Yesavage is poised to start Game 2 of the ALDS. The 22-year-old will take the mound after making three starts since his MLB debut in mid-September, where he posted an ERA of 5.36 with 16 strikeouts over 14 innings. Right-hander Shane Bieber will start Game 3 in New York, further solidifying the pitching rotation for this critical series.
Blue Jays’ Strategy for the ALDS
- Bo Bichette – PCL sprain, missed 23 games
- Max Scherzer – Struggled against Yankees, poor September performance
- Chris Bassitt – Insufficient recovery from back injury, not on roster
- José Berríos – Elbow injury, missed rotation spot
- Trey Yesavage – Starting Game 2, team’s top prospect
- Shane Bieber – Set to pitch Game 3
The Toronto Blue Jays will need to adapt quickly in the absence of these key players as they prepare for the challenge posed by the New York Yankees in the forthcoming ALDS match-ups. With a blend of experience and fresh talent, the team’s strategy will be crucial in advancing in the postseason.
