Blue Jays Announce Their ALCS Roster

[Mike LeSage]

The Toronto Blue Jays have released their roster for the ALCS (first pitch at 8:03 PM EST tonight!), and there were a couple of changes from the team we saw in the last round. 

First, we say goodbye to Tommy Nance and Justin Bruihl. Nance pitched an inning and a third in the ALDS and had a team-high 13.50 ERA (4-game small sample alert) of pitchers with at least one inning pitched. Bruihl misses the one-inning cut-off by two-thirds as he retired only one of the four batters he faced, gave up a dinger, and was saddled with an ERA of 54.00 (even smaller sample size alert!). Taking their places are Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt. Bassitt ended the regular season on the IL with lower back inflammation, but was eligible to be selected for the ALDS roster. Scherzer struggled down the stretch, posting a 10.20 ERA in September (only Tyler Heineman's 67.50 was worse) to go along with a 5.34 FIP.

The Jays haven't fully committed to a rotation plan this series, other than announcing Kevin Gausman as the Game 1 starter, but it is safe to assume, based on how the last round went, that Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber get games 2 and 3. Does that give us a Scherzer Game 4 start with the shortest leash in the world and Bassitt out of the 'pen in relief? That's where my first thought would be.

With all that shuffling of the pitchers, there was unfortunately no change on the hitters' side. Bo Bichette, despite running the bases yesterday, was not yet in a position to occupy a roster spot. As noted by Ben Nicholson-Smith, Bichette was still showing signs of discomfort in that knee that was injured September 6 in a collision with Yankee Austin Wells. The Jays will have to make the World Series now to guarantee Bichette another shot at playing in a Toronto uniform before hitting free agency this coming off-season.

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[harvey16]

It's too bad Bichette isn't healthy, but he looked in serious pain trying to round second base yesterday in practice. He's done for the playoffs I think and might very well have played his last game in a blue jays uniform. Glad that we have added both Scherzer and Bassitt to the roster, much needed depth pieces.

[Laika]

Was hoping he could at least pinch hit. I'm imagining a late and close situation where you don't really care about baserunning. Having him for that might outweigh the "use" of having IKF all series.

Maybe Toronto makes the WS and Bo is Kirk Gibson.

[Terminator]

12 minutes ago, harvey16 said:

It's too bad Bichette isn't healthy, but he looked in serious pain trying to round second base yesterday in practice. He's done for the playoffs I think and might very well have played his last game in a blue jays uniform. Glad that we have added both Scherzer and Bassitt to the roster, much needed depth pieces.

World Series doesn’t start for almost two weeks. If we make it I bet he’s back. 

[Mike LeSage]

36 minutes ago, Laika said:

Was hoping he could at least pinch hit. I'm imagining a late and close situation where you don't really care about baserunning. Having him for that might outweigh the "use" of having IKF all series.

Maybe Toronto makes the WS and Bo is Kirk Gibson.

I love that Schneider has tried to dampen this idea by specifically saying Bo wouldn't get the Gibson treatment - but if IKF plays this round like the last one I'd take my chances with Bichette.