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TORONTO — The Blue Jays arrived at the World Series having survived the first two rounds without one of their best bats from the regular season.
That could change Friday, though where Bo Bichette actually plays and just how effective he can be after a lengthy injury layoff remains very much in question.
Bichette went through a workout Thursday at Rogers Centre that was expected to be the final hurdle in potentially clearing him to make the Blue Jays roster ahead of Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night against the Dodgers.
“I think after our workout today, there’ll be a lot more understanding of where I stand,” Bichette said Thursday afternoon before the workout. “For me, I’m just trying to do everything I can to be ready for whatever I’m physically capable of doing. I’m ready to help the team in whatever capacity that is.”
Bichette has not played since Sept. 6 when he collided with Yankees catcher Austin Wells on a play at the plate and sprained his left knee.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated that shortstop (Bichette’s natural position), second base (where Bichette took ground balls on Thursday but has not played since 2019 at Triple-A) and DH could all be in play for the right-handed hitter who batted .311 with an .840 OPS during the regular season.
His addition would force someone else out of the lineup — along with potentially having George Springer (who has been hobbled himself since getting hit by a pitch on the knee during the ALCS) move from DH to right field.
It was all part of the equation that the Blue Jays were weighing Thursday.
“I think that where we are now, there’s going to be emotions and thoughts and feelings that these guys are going to feel that they haven’t felt regardless of if they just played in Game 7 or if they haven’t played in a while,” Schneider said. “Just in conversations with Bo, he’s pretty realistic about how he feels and how he will feel if he’s out there. So it’s something we got to continue to work through, really. I think that if he feels comfortable [playing second base], I’m going to listen to players and trust them.”
The Dodgers may not have one of their top relievers available at least to start the series.
The club announced early Thursday evening that lefty Alex Vesia was away from the team “as he and his wife Kayla navigate a deeply personal family matter.”
Manager Dave Roberts said the team was still working through its roster options, including whether Vesia might be available to them at any point.
“I think, right now, we’re in the mode of trying to understand the process, the rules, a way that we could sort of try to navigate the roster,” Roberts said. “We’re going through the process of trying to backfill his spot on the roster.”
The Blue Jays were more aggressive than any other team this season in taking the bat out of Aaron Judge’s hands.
Schneider made it sound as if they will be even more careful with Shohei Ohtani.
“I think we’re talking about a totally different kind of animal here that can do things on the field that not many people can do, with all the respect in the world for Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh,” Schneider said.
