TORONTO – There’s no way a bye-week intrasquad game could mean anything, right? In comparison to Game 5 of the ALDS, no, the stakes were far lower for the Blue Jays vs. Blue Jays game that unfolded in front of about 7,500 fans at Rogers Centre Thursday afternoon.
But the game still offered some small hints at what’s ahead for the Blue Jays, especially on the pitching side.
A five-inning, 70-pitch outing from Max Scherzer means there’s no chance the 41-year-old right-hander will be available this weekend for Games 1 or 2. That’s not exactly a surprise, but if the Blue Jays wanted Scherzer available out of the bullpen this round – something he’s done five times in the post-season over the years – they wouldn’t have let him pitch this much in an exhibition game.
Having thrown 70 pitches Thursday, Scherzer would line up for a Game 3 or 4 start on Tuesday or Wednesday, if needed. It’s also possible he won’t be on the roster for this round – and the Dodgers’ decision to leave Clayton Kershaw off their Wild Card roster offers a reminder that these decisions are about who can help most over a short period against a specific opponent, not about what’s needed to get through the grind of 162 games.
Manager John Schneider will address the media again Friday, but there was no media availability Thursday, so the significance of Scherzer’s extended outing remains murky for now.
Starters Shane Bieber and Chris Bassitt also pitched Thursday, with Bassitt wearing a red jersey that stood in stark contrast to his teammates in blue and white. Both right-handers pitched relatively short outings, keeping options open for the Blue Jays should either pitcher be needed this weekend.
Bowden Francis also pitched, though he’s not a consideration for the ALDS roster.
Notably, Kevin Gausman and Trey Yesavage did not appear in this week’s intrasquad games, a decision that also leaves those two pitchers in play for appearances in Games 1 and 2 this weekend. Whoever starts Game 1 of the ALDS would also line up for Game 5, and Gausman may be the leading candidate for that assignment.
But there’s perhaps a case for getting a little more creative with the Game 2 assignment. While Bieber was acquired for moments like this, Game 3 is also guaranteed to be a pivotal one in the series, and it will take place on the road. One possibility would be to allow Yesavage to make his playoff debut at home instead of at Yankee Stadium or Fenway Park in a potential must-win game.
Bieber’s experience may make him better equipped to handle that road environment, and using Yesavage early in the series would give the Yankees or Red Sox less time to prepare for his unorthodox delivery. Neither team has seen Yesavage yet, and whoever wins the wild-card round will likely arrive in Toronto in the wee hours of Friday morning, at which point they’ll need to prepare for Toronto’s Game 1 starter. Neither team will have access to a Trajekt pitching machine in Toronto, for what it’s worth, but both have the tool for home games.
Ultimately it doesn’t matter how the Blue Jays decide to sequence their starting pitchers unless the pitchers perform to their ability – while also getting some support from the offence. But some early hints are emerging with more to be revealed Friday when Schneider speaks on the first official ALDS workout day.
