The Toronto Blue Jays have some huge roster decisions to make ahead of the American League Championship Series on Sunday. Sure, they manhandled the New York Yankees in the ALDS without the likes of Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, and Chris Bassitt. But any or all of them could find their way back onto the roster for the ALCS. And if they do, that means some bodies will have to be left out of the mix.
Let’s start with the most anticipated potential return to the lineup: Bichette. He’s been out for five weeks. While the team struggled without him down the stretch of the regular season, the depth of the lineup kicked in during the four-game triumph of the Yankees in the Division Series, and they never missed a beat without their top hitter.
Bichette gave fans some hope of his potential readiness with his comments during the celebrations after clinching against New York. But whether or not he is truly ready to return from his sprained knee is still very much up in the air.
Bichette has been ‘jogging’; will he be ready to run the bases for the ALCS?
He’s been seen doing some light jogging on the field this week, but a ‘light jog’ won’t be enough to beat out an infield single. Or to charge headlong into second on a double into the corner. Clearly, Bichette will need to show that he can run the bases to be ready to go.
And even if he is, two main questions need to be answered: Where does he play, and who exits the lineup?
Blue Jays beat writer Mike Wilner had potential answers to both questions on Foul Territory:
“We’re definitely not going to see Bo Bichette playing shortstop,” said Wilner. That makes a ton of sense, and not only because of Bichette’s knee issues limiting his mobility. Even at his best in the field, he is not close to the fielder that Andres Gimenez is. If Toronto wants to lean on its defense, which was one of its foundations during the season, then keeping Bichette away from shortstop is the way to go.
“Who’s on First?” No, the big question for the Jays in the ALCS is “Who’s at DH?”
It wasn’t a question on Abbott & Costello’s radar way back when, but “Who’s at DH” is what all Jays fans are asking as we get set for the ALCS.
The answer, of course, with shortstop out of the question, is Bo Bichette (if he is indeed ready to go). The problem there, however, is that DH is both George Springer’s & Anthony Santander’s best position. Wilner seems to think that the latter, who missed much of the season, could be the one who exits the roster.
However, that is not the only option. And probably not the most sensible option, either, given the lengthy, intense at-bats Santander delivered against the Yankees.
Keegan Matheson of mlb.com outlines a much more likely scenario if Bichette is on the roster.
“If Bichette’s a DH, that means George Springer is an outfielder, something he has done just nine times since the beginning of August. Depending on matchups, this would bump one of either Anthony Santander or Nathan Lukes to the bench,” Matheson writes. “It also feels difficult to envision the Blue Jays being comfortable with an outfield defense of Santander and Springer on either side of Daulton Varsho.”
Umm, correct. That outfield alignment is a hard ‘no’ for a team that values defense.
Given all of those parameters, the Jays would definitely need to keep Myles Straw on the roster as a defensive replacement in the outfield. Therefore, that leaves only one option to have his name removed from the ALCS squad: Isiah Kiner-Falefa.
They’d lose his defensive versatility in the infield, but that might be a sacrifice they’d have to make if it meant having Bo Bichette in the lineup.
Blue Jays must decide on Scherzer & Bassitt’s fate for ALCS, and the roster ramifications
On the pitching side, a seven-game series now necessitates a 4th starter being added. In addition, you just need more ways to get length out of the pitching staff in general. I could see both Scherzer and Bassitt being added to the roster. Either one could start, or either could offer length out of the bullpen in a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency situation. But that would require two ALDS arms to be removed.
The first one is an easy call: Justin Bruihl. He was only on the roster in the Division Series to have another southpaw to throw at all the Yankees’ left-handed hitters. His three hits and two earned runs allowed in a third of an inning in that role certainly didn’t endear him to the coaching staff. He is out.
But who is the second pitcher to be kept off the roster if both Scherzer and Bassitt, as expected, are in? Tommy Nance, who also struggled in his two appearances against New York, is the most likely victim.
The Blue Jays have until 10 am Sunday morning to sort this all out. In the meantime, all eyes will be on Bo Bichette.
