TORONTO -- On the eve of Decision Day for the American League Championship Series, Bo Bichette is pushing to play.
Bichette ran the bases at Rogers Centre prior to the Blue Jays’ team workout Saturday afternoon, the final hurdle he needs to clear before returning from the left knee sprain that’s kept him out for five weeks. The Blue Jays have until 10 a.m. ET Sunday to set their roster ahead of Game 1 against the Mariners.
“We’re just seeing how he gets through running the bases, turning corners, things like that,” manager John Schneider said. “To see how the rest of his days goes is -- I don't want to say our last decision -- but one of them. We’re just getting some feedback from him when he's done.”
While it’s encouraging that Bichette is ramping up his activity, it was also clear that Bichette was still experiencing some discomfort while rounding the bases. Granted, it’s unlikely for him to return at anything close to 100%, but the Blue Jays still need Bichette healthy enough to take a shot at a double if he hits the ball into the gap, or to score from second on a single. The bar isn’t terribly high here, given the upside Bichette offers with his bat alone, but Schneider has said a dozen times over the past week that he does not want to play Bichette if he’s still compromised.
Given how Bichette looked running the bases, his recovery through tonight and into tomorrow could be the deciding factor, but details on Bichette have been intentionally vague. It didn’t benefit the Blue Jays to give any hints to the Yankees in the ALDS and it won’t benefit them to do that for the Mariners in the ALCS.
There’s also the possibility -- perhaps even likelihood -- that Bichette would need to return as a DH. That comes with its own set of dominoes, moving George Springer to the outfield and likely bumping one of Anthony Santander or Nathan Lukes from regular reps. Bichette returning is one thing, but which version of him would the Blue Jays be getting?
“I'm trying to weigh out [Bichette’s role]. Is it every day?” Schneider said. “Is it off the bench? Obviously, you want his bat in the lineup.”
Given that Bichette is at least testing his knee on the bases, it feels like he would surely be ready in time for a potential World Series beginning on Oct. 24. The Blue Jays need to get there, though, and a healthy Bichette gives them the best shot.
This could also be the end of the line in Toronto for Bichette, who will be a free agent after the season. That adds another layer of importance to what continues to be the biggest story leading into the ALCS. This organization drafted Bichette nearly a decade ago and he’s grown up alongside Vladimir Guerrero Jr., chasing a moment just like this. Bichette deserves a shot at writing his own ending in Toronto, if that’s what this is, but he’s not just fighting his left knee here, he’s fighting the clock.