The American League Division Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees will begin in a matter of hours, and both teams have announced their rosters for the series accordingly. In the case of the Blue Jays, they have taken the decision to leave off two players who, over the course of the regular season, started a combined 48 games for them.
On the announced roster for the series, the Blue Jays have not listed either of their two right-handed veterans, Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. In the case of Bassitt, it appears he was unable to quite make it back to sufficient health in time from the back injury that ended his regular season campaign one game early. But in the case of Scherzer, there was no reported injury – the decision was purely tactical.
Ill-Timed Injury Problems
Because they won the AL East pennant, ahead of both the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox team that they vanquished in the Wild Card series, the Blue Jays were able to get a little bit of extra rest before beginning postseason play. It was hoped that this, combined with skipping his final regular season start, would give Bassitt enough time to get back to his best in time for the crunch.
Unfortunately, despite being able to pitch two innings in an intra-mural game in the week, Bassitt has been deemed not yet ready. He was put onto the injured list on September 20 with what was reported to be lower back inflammation, and although the Blue Jays will be able to activate him for any future series should they advanced, they will need to find another starter for Game Four of the series.
It will not however be Scherzer, who has been left off for reasons of efficacy. The 41-year-old veteran was able to start 17 games in his first season as a Blue Jay, but was not especially effective, giving up a 5.19 ERA on account of yielding 19 home runs in only 85.0 innings. Against a home run-heavy Yankees line-up, with the recently-acquired Shane Bieber at full health, and with breakout youngster Trey Yesavage in the fold, there was no place left in the rotation for Scherzer – and the bullpen is full.
Blue Jays Short-Handed At The Wrong Time
Scherzer may have hoped for a reprieve given that it was also known that fellow starter Jose Berrios would miss the series with a right elbow problem of his own. However, the decision to acquire Bieber and accelerate the majors timeline of Yesavage has seen the Blue Jays fill the required four spots with – it would appear – a rotation of those two, plus Kevin Gausman and Eric Lauer.
Another player unable to return in time will be star shortstop Bo Bichette, whose absence will be acutely felt. Bichette had hoped to be back in time from the left knee sprain that has left him on the injured list since September 9, yet despite being listed as day-do-day, the Blue Jays did not announce his name on the roster. Clearly, whichever day it is that Bichette is ready to go again, it will not be coming in the next seven.
The Blue Jays will be facing a Yankees team coming off the high of the Red Sox victory, and armed with a very strong front three starters of their own. Max Fried, record-setting Carlos Rodon and breakout star Cam Schlittler will take the mounds for three of the series’ first four games, while for the fourth, despite missing the Red Sox series, Luis Gil will be back for this one. As much as can be in the known long-term absences of Gerrit Cole and Clark Schmidt, then, the Yankees will be healthy and ready to go with their rotation of choice.
The Blue Jays would love to be able to say the same, but the Bassitt and Berrios news sees them going in short handed. Thankful though the fans will be for Bieber and Yesavage, one thing does seem increasingly clear – for Scherzer, time may be up.
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