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What factors are there to consider when building the Toronto Blue Jays American League Division series roster?
There will be plenty of questions about who will make the Blue Jays’ playoff roster.
The roster won’t be finalized until Saturday morning at 10 a.m. ET and will depend on a variety of factors, including health and opponent.
Blue Jays will have to make tough choices when selecting their roster for the ALDS
Each team gets 26 roster spots, with a maximum of 13 pitchers allowed and rosters can be reset for each series.
That’s a reduction of two from this past weekend, when teams closed out the regular season with expanded 28-man rosters and up to 14 pitchers.
Given the Blue Jays’ injuries, is that a player subbed out during a post-season series due to injury is ineligible to appear in the next round, so there’s risk in rushing someone back.
Apparent locks (12): Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Andres Gimenez, Ernie Clement, Addison Barger, Anthony Santander, George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes, Davis Schneider
Additional candidates (4): Bo Bichette, Joey Loperfido, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Ty France
Factors to consider: Given that Bo Bichette is yet to start running and is still only hitting off a tee and taking flips, it’s a stretch to expect him back for Saturday.
If he’s not on the roster, Kiner-Falefa has a clear path to a spot as a backup infielder who offers late-game defence, and even if Bichette were to play in the ALDS, the Blue Jays would likely need a deep bench behind him to ensure they can pinch run as needed.
Apparent locks (9): Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Dominguez, Yariel Rodriguez, Louis Varland, Brendon Little, Eric Lauer
Additional candidates (5): Chris Bassitt, Max Scherzer, Tommy Nance, Mason Fluharty, Braydon Fisher
Presumed unavailable due to injury is Jose Berrios.
Factors to consider: There’s more variability on the pitching side depending on how many arms they plan to carry and how the Blue Jays decide to approach their starters.
The schedule, with off-days after Games 2 and 4, if necessary, opens room for creativity such as non-traditional starts, piggybacking or a bullpen day.
Gausman and Bieber will presumably start the first two games of the ALDS in some order, with the Game 1 starter also lining up for a decisive Game 5, if needed.
What they do in between is in question, starting with Bassitt, who’s said to be recovering well from the back inflammation that landed him on the injured list late in the season.
Carrying both Bassitt and Scherzer would likely mean leaving at least one of Nance, Fisher and the left-handed Fluharty off the roster when all three are pitching exceptionally well.
It’s a good problem to have, one that will ultimately be resolved by health and matchups.
Previously on Blue Jays Central