Blue Jays Pick Gausman for Game 1; No Bichette Substitution

Bo Bichette hit a game-winning home run for the Toronto Blue Jays against the Texas Rangers in May, marking his first career pinch-hit homer. This pivotal moment was seen as a turning point by Manager John Schneider, propelling the team towards a division title. However, Bichette, who is recovering from a left knee sprain, may not be available for the upcoming Division Series against the New York Yankees unless he can play regularly.

With Bichette still not fully recovered as of Friday, it seems unlikely that he will be a regular option for the Jays in the series against the Yankees. The official roster announcement will be made on Saturday. The Jays have won 15 out of 23 games played without Bichette this year, but they need three more wins to advance to the Championship Series.

Kevin Gausman has been named the Game 1 starter for the Jays against the Yankees. Gausman, a key pitcher for the team, has shown strong performance in the second half of the season. He is known for his fastball and splitter, which have been effective against many hitters, including those from the Yankees. Gausman's approach is expected to remain consistent in the upcoming game.

The Jays have not yet revealed their Game 2 starter or future pitching plans beyond Gausman. Manager Schneider hinted at the possibility of using Shane Bieber for the second game, emphasizing the potential for pitching strategies in a five-game series. The team is considering starting rookie Trey Yesavage in Game 2 to leverage home-field advantage and surprise the Yankees with an unfamiliar pitcher.

There is also speculation about employing an opener before Yesavage to add another layer of unpredictability to the Jays' pitching tactics. The team's recent acquisition, Louis Varland, could be a candidate for this role. The Jays are exploring various options to optimize their pitching rotation for the series against the Yankees.