The Toronto Blue Jays have four days before the start of the American League Division Series and are hoping it’s enough time for Bo Bichette to return from the knee injury that has kept him out of the lineup since Sept. 7.
While the star shortstop says he will do everything he can to be ready for Game 1 on Saturday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that it’s unlikely Bichette will be ready in time for this weekend.
“The Blue Jays have really kept the medical stuff locked down. I don’t think he’s going to play in the ALDS. It’s unlikely we’re going to see him this weekend,” said Olney on TSN Radio.”He’s going to give it a go this week and see how he feels. I think it’s more likely that if the Jays advance, we’ll see him in the ALCS.”
Bichette, 27, finished his season hitting .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBI. He led the American League in hits while in the lineup and finished the season second in the AL with 181, trailing only Kansas City Royals superstar Bobby Witt Jr. (184).
The Blue Jays’ offence woke up over the final series of the season, averaging 7.33 runs per game over their final three contests of the season after struggling to produce consistent offence in preceding series losses to the Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals.
Bichette’s return would provide a boost for the offence, but Olney says manager John Schneider will need to make a difficult choice on how to deploy the two-time All-Star.
The Jays will have to examine the question ‘How does using a hampered Bo Bichette measure against someone that’s fully healthy?’
Yesavage in Game 2?
Blue Jays ace Kevin Gausman will be the presumptive starter for Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday, prompting questions about who will follow in the rotation.
Rookie starter Trey Yesavage has impressed in his short major-league stint, going 1-0 with a 3.21 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 14.0 innings. With a best-of-five series on tap in the Division Series, Olney believes Yesavage could be the x-factor the Blue Jays need to get to the ALCS for the first time since 2016.
“Yesavage could be one of the great wildcards in this postseason series because nobody knows him. All we’ve seen out of him is a guy who has a great mound presence and great stuff,” Olney said. “The great splitter that no one has grown accustomed to. I think that if you’re the Blue Jays, you want to keep him in as comfortable a setting as possible.”
“So if you are tied 1-1 or down 0-2 [in Game 2] you get the veteran Shane Bieber, who’s pitched in the postseason and pitched a bunch in Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park, and he’s going to be comfortable.”
The Blue Jays will prepare to host Games 1 and 2 of the ALDS by hosting a pair of intrasquad games to stay sharp during the time off. As the Red Sox and New York Yankees battle in their best-of-three Wild Card series, Olney says the Jays will need to come out swinging against whichever division rival emerges.
“Watching the Jays over the weekend, they were rolling. There was a great feel to that offence,” said Olney. “[Rust vs. Rest] is going to be one of the big questions of the series. Either way, the team coming out of the Wild Card series is going to have some serious momentum, having beaten their arch-rival.”
The Yankees and Red Sox begin their series tonight in New York.