Bichette not in starting lineup for Game 2, enters as pinch-hitter

TORONTO -- When the Blue Jays added Bo Bichette to their World Series roster after he hadn’t played in over a month, they knew load management was going to be something they would have to deal with.

Limited in his return on Friday night as he went 1-for-2 with a walk before getting replaced by pinch-runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa in Toronto’s explosive nine-run sixth inning of an 11-4 Game 1 win over the Dodgers, Bichette was absent from the Blue Jays’ starting lineup for Game 2. Bichette did ground out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh and finished the game playing second base in the Blue Jays' 5-1 loss on Saturday night at Rogers Centre.

According to manager John Schneider, that was always the likely plan, knowing all along that Bichette clearly was not at 100 percent but healthy enough to contribute.

“He felt pretty good after the game,” Schneider said before Game 2. “Checking in with him today, probably feels a little bit better than he expected. Again, when we put him on the roster, we did it because we thought he could help us win, which he did yesterday, and keeping in mind that he hasn't played in seven weeks.”

Though he was not in the lineup, Schneider indicated that Bichette would be available off the bench, and not just necessarily as a pinch-hitter.

“Just depends upon the situation,” Schneider said. “Maybe the third inning. It depends. Obviously feel comfortable with him -- what he's doing at the plate. I think that if the situation calls for something, he'll be ready to hit and stay in. If the situation calls for hit and pinch-run, either one, he'll be ready for it.”

Playing second base for the first time in his Major League career and only having played it once as a Minor Leaguer in 2019, Bichette certainly did not look out of place on defense. He even made one of the plays of the night on a ground ball up the middle and fired a nice throw across his body to take away a hit and potential RBI from Teoscar Hernández in the third.

“He was great,” said Blue Jays utility man Ernie Clement. “He looked like a natural out there. That play to, one, keep the ball on the infield with a guy on second up the middle, and then to throw him out, it’s him trusting his instincts and just being a ballplayer at the end of the day. That’s a nice play.”

Still, there was clear evidence of Bichette grinding through some discomfort on that play, as he winced and appeared to be taking inventory on that left knee that cost him seven weeks after spraining it at Yankee Stadium in early September.

The move from shortstop to second base is one the Blue Jays believe will help, requiring less range and perhaps limiting the usual wear and tear.

What’s most important to the Blue Jays is being able to utilize Bichette’s talents as a hitter, which showed up immediately in Game 1.

“I think tomorrow being off kind of plays into today's thinking a little bit,” Schneider said. “But I think at this point, again, no one's feeling 100 percent, so if it's a game that he's starting, starting Game 3, and he plays nine innings, I think we're going to be OK with that.”