Shortstop Bichette, pitchers Scherzer and Bassitt not on Blue Jays’ ALDS roster

TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette and pitchers Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt were not included on the team’s roster for the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees.

Bichette remains out with a knee sprain while Scherzer and Bassitt did not make the 26-man cut for the best-of-five series.

Manager John Schneider said rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage will start Game 2 on Sunday at Rogers Centre and Shane Bieber will start Game 3 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.

“We like the young kid here and the veteran on the road,” Schneider said Saturday in a late-morning media availability in his office.

Yesavage has impressed in his three big-league starts since the top prospect was called up last month. Bieber, an AL Cy Young Award winner in 2020, has also impressed since he was acquired at the trade deadline.

Schneider went with 13 pitchers and 13 position players for his roster. Isiah Kiner-Falefa will serve as a backup infielder and relievers Justin Bruihl and Mason Fluharty were among four southpaw options in the bullpen.

Bassitt has been building up after dealing with lower back pain over the last two weeks. Schneider said that the decision on Scherzer, who has struggled over the last month, was “lineup and opponent-dependent.”

“Just the way that (the Yankees are) constructed, the way we are planning to go after them with starters and relievers, there wasn’t a real great lane for him against this team, which sounds really weird being that it’s Max Scherzer,” he said.

“That was obviously a really, really tough decision, because you trust the guy.”

The Yankees, who reached the ALDS after a three-game win over the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card series, went with 14 position players and 12 pitchers. Manager Aaron Boone previously said that Max Fried would start Game 2.

Scherzer, Bassitt and Bichette, who hit .311 this season with 18 homers and 94 runs batted in, could return for the AL Championship Series if Toronto were to advance.

If necessary, Game 4 of the ALDS would be played Wednesday in New York. If the series goes the distance, the teams would return to Rogers Centre for Game 5 on Friday.

The Yankees reached the World Series last year but lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays are making their first ALDS appearance since 2016.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2025.

Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press