As the regular season winds down, the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in a precarious position. With only three games left to play, they are neck-and-neck with the New York Yankees in the win column, and the battle for the American League East title remains intense. The winner of the division secures not only bragging rights but also the much-coveted first-round bye in the postseason—a prize that could prove particularly valuable for Toronto given the current uncertainty surrounding their star shortstop, Bo Bichette.
Bichette’s Injury Timeline Raises Concerns
Bo Bichette has been sidelined since September 6, and the latest updates do not inspire much confidence. According to MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson, as of Tuesday, Bichette had not yet resumed running. While Blue Jays manager John Schneider has insisted that the 26-year-old is “day-to-day” and showing “some progress,” there is no denying that time is rapidly running out.
“No real change, but some progress, which is good. Day-to-day with him,” Schneider said. “I’m hoping, sometime soon, that we have a significant update in the right direction, but still day-to-day.”
The message may sound cautiously optimistic, but the reality is clear: Bichette is still far from being game-ready. With only three games left before the playoffs, his availability for the Wild Card round remains in serious doubt.
Why the Bye Matters More for Toronto
For the Yankees, a first-round bye would be a welcome advantage, giving them time to reset their pitching staff and rest everyday players. For the Blue Jays, however, the stakes are even higher. A bye would give Bichette precious extra days to heal, potentially making the difference between starting the postseason with or without their star shortstop.
If Toronto fails to win the division and is forced into a best-of-three Wild Card series, they could be staring at the daunting prospect of playing without Bichette. His absence would be a major blow to both their offense and defense. Bichette is not only the heartbeat of the Blue Jays’ lineup but also a stabilizing presence at shortstop. Losing him in October, even for a short series, could tilt the scales heavily against Toronto.
Potential Lineup Adjustments
One option for the Blue Jays, if Bichette is unable to play the field, would be to insert him into the lineup as a designated hitter. While that would at least allow his bat to contribute, it creates another problem: Toronto would have to sacrifice another valuable offensive piece to make room for him. Moreover, given that Bichette hasn’t played since early September, there is no telling whether he will be sharp enough to produce right away.
The situation leaves the Blue Jays in a bind. They must prepare for the possibility of starting their postseason without one of their cornerstone players while simultaneously hoping for a late, dramatic turnaround in his recovery.
The Final Stretch
Toronto closes out the regular season with a three-game set against the Tampa Bay Rays. The math is simple: they must match the Yankees’ results over the next three games in order to claim the division crown, as Toronto holds the head-to-head tiebreaker. Every game counts, and every inning could make the difference between resting for the Division Series or grinding it out in a Wild Card battle.
For now, the Blue Jays and their fans remain in a frustrating state of limbo. Bichette’s status is officially “day-to-day,” but in postseason baseball, uncertainty is the last thing any team wants. The Blue Jays can hope for good news, but as the old saying goes, hope is not a strategy.
With October looming, Toronto’s path forward is clear: win the division, secure the bye, and pray that Bichette can return in time to make an impact. Anything less, and their playoff journey could get significantly more complicated.