UPDATE: The Toronto Blue Jays have officially left star shortstop Bo Bichette off their roster for the American League Division Series (ALDS) against the New York Yankees, which kicks off on September 6, 2025. This decision comes despite hopes he would recover from a knee sprain in time to contribute to the playoff push.
Bichette, 27, was pivotal in leading the Blue Jays to 94 wins this season, batting .311 with 18 home runs and an .840 OPS. Unfortunately, an injury sustained while sliding into home plate at Yankee Stadium has sidelined him for this crucial series. Blue Jays manager John Schneider confirmed that Bichette did not pass necessary running tests and hitting drills against velocity, making his inclusion unfeasible.
“For him to be on, he’d have to play pretty regularly,” Schneider stated. “We don’t want to deviate too much from what we’ve been doing. It’s not saving him for a Kirk Gibson at-bat that may not come.”
In addition to Bichette, veteran pitchers Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer will also not appear on the postseason roster. Bassitt, who was on the injured list due to back inflammation, hasn’t pitched since allowing three runs in 4.1 innings on September 18. Scherzer’s exclusion is considered a strategic move after he posted a 5.19 ERA this season.
The Blue Jays will carry three other right-handed starters: Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and rookie Trey Yesavage, along with left-hander Eric Lauer, who has a solid 3.18 ERA across 15 starts this season. Gausman is set to start Game 1, followed by Bieber in Game 2, and Yesavage expected to take the mound for Game 3 in New York.
The Yankees have made just one roster change, adding Luis Gil for Game 1 while excluding reliever Mark Leiter Jr.. With the stakes extremely high, both teams are gearing up for an intense battle as they vie for a spot in the next round of playoffs.
Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the absence of Bichette will impact the Blue Jays’ playoff strategy. As the series unfolds, all eyes will be on how Toronto adapts without one of their key players in this critical postseason moment.
Stay tuned for more updates as the ALDS progresses and the Blue Jays look to make a deep run in the playoffs despite these setbacks.