12:30 pm: Manager John Schneider provides some background on roster decision making for SportsNet’s Arden Zwelling (multiple links) and other media. Apart from the lack of running, Bichette has not faced higher speeds or pitches in his work in the cage. Bassitt wasn’t enough to reach out and Scherzer was omitted because Schneider didn’t like him to match New York in particular. If the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the wildcard series, Scherzer could be included.
9:20 am: The Blue Jays announced their official 26ers lineup to compete in the AL Division Series against the Yankees that began today. Toronto will allow 13 pitchers and 13 players to take action against New York and make the following defeats…
catcher: Alejandro Kirk,,,,, Taylor Heinman
Infielder: Addison Barger,,,,, Ernie Clement,,,,, Andres Gimenez,,,,, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.,,,,, Isiah Kiner-Falefa
Outfielder: Nathan Lukes,,,,, Anthony Santander,,,,, Davis Schneider,,,,, George Springer,,,,, Myers Grass,,,,, Daulton Varsho
Left-handed pitcher: Justin Bruihl,,,,, Mason Fluharty,,,,, Eric Lauer,,,,, Brenden Jr.
Right-handed pitcher: Shane Bieber,,,,, Seranthony Dominguez,,,,, Braydon Fisher,,,,, Kevin Gausman,,,,, Jeff Hoffman,,,,, Tommy Nance,,,,, Yariel Rodriguez,,,,, Louis Varland,,,,, Trey YesAvage
The lineup clearly does not include three players fighting the injury (Bo Bichette,,,,, Chris Bassitt,,,,, France) and a prominent name Max Shezer. The omission of Scherzer and Bassitt from the lineup means that the Blue Jays appear to be locking in rookie Yesavage, starting a game of the series and then perhaps turning to the bullpen game in Game 4.
Not long ago, Jays seemed to have almost any remaining candidates for the playoff candidates in Gausman, Bieber, Scherzer, Bassitt, Lauer, Gausman, Bieber, Scherzer, Lauer. Jose Berriosyes, waiting in the wings of Triple A. Toronto moved Lauer to a relief role in early September and studied Berrios’ bullpen work at the end of this month, although cases of elbow inflammation occupied Berrios’ case and brought his playoff supply rate to rise.
Bassitt also hit the 15-day injury list on September 19 due to tight lower back, but appears to be part of the ALDS roster. It is unclear whether Bassitt may have some sort of setback in his upgrade work, or that he or Jays have enough uncertainty about his health that the team doesn’t want to risk sending Bassitt to the roster. If the player has to be removed from the playoff roster due to injury, the player is not eligible for the following series, so if the Jays beat New York, the Blue Jays may not want to take this opportunity to lose Bassitt for the ALCS.
For Scherzer, his two World Series and 143 professional playoffs innings weigh less than the Veterans’ recent form. The right-hander released 9.00 ERA in the last six games of the regular season and 25 innings, while Scherzer completed just six innings in one of the outings. One of these tough starts was in the September 7 game against the Yankees, when Scherzer made four hits and four walks and four runs in a 4-3 New York victory.
Scherzer scored a 5.19 ERA in 85 innings in 2025 as he missed most of the first half injury. Just before his tough last six games, Scherzer appeared to have five consecutive quality starts and 2.25 ERA locked in 32 innings. Jays signed a one-year, 15.5mm contract last winter, hoping he can get back to the clock and provide senior depth and experience for the rotation, especially if Toronto happens to make the playoffs. While he has the potential to return to ALCS, Scherzer will be limited to audience duties, at least in the first leg of the Blue Jays playoffs.
Not surprisingly, Bichette didn’t compete because as of Wednesday, Bichette hasn’t started training from a left PCL sprain. Bichette hurt his knees almost a month ago in another game against the Yankees on September 6 in an awkward slide to the plate. Bichette was able to swing his swing in the batting cage, but his position in the rest of the playoffs was unclear until he was able to run, and whether Jays managed to pull it deep into October.
France It is another player worth noting, as France may still be plagued by slant inflammation, a slope that has kept him in a state since September 21. France’s absence will leave Jays without some right-handed bench depth, and Guerrero is now the only real first baseman on the roster, although Guerrero’s only Guerrero is not expected to leave any roster in the series.
