Toronto will get an important bat back in the lineup tonight after the offense was shut down in Game 2 of the World Series. Beau Bichette Will start at second base in Game 3, batting fourth. “[He] I felt good coming out yesterday.” Manager John Schneider told reporters Sunday, including David Singer of Sportsnet. “I think as time goes on he’ll probably be as close to normal as possible at this stage of the year.“
Bichette made his long-awaited return in the first game after missing nearly two months with a knee injury. He went 3-0 in his first at-bat. Bichette started Toronto’s game-breaking sixth inning, tied Blake Snell A game ahead. Isaiah Keener-Falefa Replaced him at base and scored. Toronto then chased Snell and two relievers with nine runs.
In Game 2, it was Kiner-Falefa, not Bichette, who started at second base. Bichette came out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. He played a few innings in relief of Keena Falefa. “Seven weeks is a long break, so you don’t want to get back to 100%. ” Schneider spoke to reporters, including Sportsnet’s Stawiddie, about Bichette’s usage.
Bichette is playing second base at the professional level for the first time since playing at Triple-A in 2019. The early returns are acceptable, as Bichette has capitalized on the few opportunities he’s had so far. Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports that Toronto is adjusting its infield strategy to support him. The team moved shortstop Andres Jimenez and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. closer to Bichette to provide extra coverage. “I think the positioning part plays a big role,” Schneider told Bannon.
Toronto had not committed an error in either of its two World Series games. Their defensive performance during the regular season was mediocre, ranking 18th in fielding percentage. The Blue Jays rank 12th in turnovers. Keena-Falefa is known for his defensive ability and can play multiple infield positions. While he did go 5-for-15 in the ALCS, the versatile player hasn’t taken any hits against the Dodgers so far. Adding Bichette’s bat to the mix would be a boost, especially after Yoshinobu Yamamoto silenced the lineup on Saturday. Keener-Falefa is a candidate to replace Bichette at base or in the game later in games.
The Blue Jays will start Max Scherzer on Monday. Schneider expects the same intensity he showed in Game 4 of the ALCS. “There’s no telling how many coaches he’s going to knock out tonight,” Schneider told reporters, including MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson. The fiery right-hander showed some lively moments in his last game, getting off to an almost quality start against Seattle. Scherzer allowed two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings to earn the win and tie the series at 2-2.
According to MLB, Scherzer’s appearance tonight for Toronto will make him the first player to pitch for four different teams in the World Series. The 40-year-old also started for Detroit, Washington and Texas in the Fall Classic, and both teams went on to win championships.
Scherzer was mediocre entering the postseason, giving up 17 earned runs in 15 innings to end the regular season. He did not make the ALDS roster, with Schneider citing the game against the Yankees as the reason for the veteran’s absence. Scherzer got off to a quality start in his only start against the Dodgers this season, holding the Dodgers to two earned runs in six innings in early September.
