TORONTO — The Blue Jays will be without shortstop Bo Bichette against the Mariners in the American League Championship Series, but they added veteran right-handers Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt to the lineup with their first AL pennant in 32 years on the line.
Seattle made two changes to the lineup that beat Detroit in the division series, with the return of ace right-hander Bryan Woo.
The Blue Jays were hoping Bichette could return from his sprained left knee for the Series, but that was dashed Saturday when he felt pain and obvious discomfort while running on base for the first time since the injury.
The first game will take place Sunday evening at the Rogers Center.
Bichette, 27, has not played since injuring his knee in a collision at home plate against the New York Yankees on September 6. He ran for the first time since his injury on Wednesday and hit a pitcher live on Friday.
Without Bichette, the Blue Jays started safety Andres Gimenez at shortstop in all four ALDS games against the Yankees. The offense continued its momentum, scoring 34 points in the series and 23 in the first two games at the Rogers Center. Bichette, however, would have given the Blue Jays another valuable weapon against a quality Mariners pitching staff.
Bichette hit .311 – tied for second in the AL – with 18 homers, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games, although he was the worst defensive shortstop in the majors as measured by above-average putouts and defensive runs saved. It was a timely offensive rebound after an injury-plagued 2024 season and free agency looming this winter. The Blue Jays now need to reach the World Series to ensure he doesn’t play his last game for them.
Scherzer and Bassitt replaced relievers Justin Bruihl and Tommy Nance, who were on Toronto’s roster for the AL Division Series, to give the pitching staff more length in a seven-game series.
Scherzer, who threw more than 90 pitches in a simulated game during the ALDS, is a candidate to start Game 4 in Seattle on Thursday. Manager John Schneider said Bassitt, who finished the regular season on the injured list with back inflammation, could pitch several innings.
Scherzer was 5-5 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts this season. The eight-time All-Star has struggled down the stretch, going 1-3 with a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts. Bassitt was 11-9 with a 3.96 ERA in 32 outings (31 starts). He last pitched on September 18, when he went 4⅓ innings against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Kevin Gausman will start Game 1 for Toronto opposite Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller. Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber should follow for the Blue Jays in Games 2 and 3.
Besides Woo, the Mariners added utilityman Miles Mastrobuoni for the ALCS. They replaced outfielder Luke Raley and infielder Ben Williamson.
A first-time All-Star this season, Woo, 25, has not pitched since Sept. 19 due to pectoral inflammation. He went 15-7 with a 2.94 ERA and 198 strikeouts in 186⅔ regular season innings.
There are three receivers among Seattle’s 13 players: Cal Raleigh, Mitch Garver and Harry Ford.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
