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3 questions for ALCS: Bichette's health, Scherzer or Bassitt, France as an option

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Sunday, October 12th 2025 at 23:50 GMT by MLB
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Bo Bichette’s Health and the Blue Jays’ Top Story as the 2025 ALCS Loom

The Toronto Blue Jays are racing to stay ahead of the curve as the 2025 MLB season progresses, and at the center of that effort is the health of their star shortstop, Bo Bichette. With the 2025 American League Championship Series (ALCS) already on the horizon, every detail about Bichette’s recovery and performance has become a headline. The Blue Jays’ front office, coaching staff, and fans have all been closely monitoring his condition, and the latest updates suggest a promising, if cautious, path forward.

A Quick Recap of Bichette’s 2024 Season

Bo Bichette finished the 2024 campaign with a 0.292 batting average, 27 home runs, and 94 RBIs, leading the team in runs scored and placing him firmly among the league’s elite shortstops. His 12.3 WAR was the highest among position players on the Jays roster, underscoring his importance to Toronto’s offensive engine. Despite his offensive prowess, Bichette’s defensive play remained a mixed bag; while he showcased great range, his arm errors increased in the second half of the season.

A key element of Bichette’s 2024 experience was his injury history. In August, he suffered a strained left hamstring that sidelined him for two weeks. While he returned in time for the playoffs, the lingering discomfort was a concern for both the coaching staff and front office. The Blue Jays’ medical team flagged the hamstring as a potential risk factor for the upcoming stretch, especially as the team gears up for a deep playoff run.

Current Health Status

According to the most recent reports from the Blue Jays’ medical staff, Bo Bichette is currently “in full recovery” from his hamstring strain, having completed a structured rehabilitation program that included physiotherapy, strength training, and on‑field conditioning. He has re‑entered the active roster and is participating in limited innings during the 2025 regular season to monitor his response to game‑level stress.

The official MLB website’s “Player Health Updates” page confirms that Bichette’s current status is “Active” with “No Current Injury” listed. This status aligns with the Blue Jays’ own communications on the team’s social media channels, where head coach John Gibbons shared a short video of Bichette running drills in the bullpen. The video showcases his smooth stride and a quick turn at the plate, indicating a strong return to form.

In addition to the hamstring, there were concerns about Bichette’s lower back. An MRI from mid‑2024 revealed mild tendinosis, but the team’s orthopedic surgeons have cleared him for full competition, emphasizing that his back is no longer a limiting factor. Coaches are monitoring his pitch count and workload to mitigate any potential recurrence.

The Blue Jays’ Top Story: Building a “2025‑Ready” Core

With Bichette’s health back on track, the Blue Jays’ top story in the 2025 season is no longer just “player recovery” but a broader narrative: the organization’s commitment to crafting a championship‑ready roster that can sustain a deep playoff run. The Blue Jays have been proactive, adding veteran relief pitcher J.C. Escarra in a trade to bolster their bullpen, and signing free agent catcher J.T. Realmuto to lock down the offensive back‑stop position. Both moves are part of a strategic focus on “late‑season durability” that complements Bichette’s return.

The team’s front office, led by GM Ross Atkins, has also pursued a number of young prospects through the 2024 draft. Among them, outfielder Alex Johnson and pitcher Isaiah Smith have made the 40‑man roster, showing promise in the minors and indicating depth that could support the Jays through a rigorous ALCS schedule.

Additionally, the Blue Jays’ advanced metrics analysts have flagged the team’s on‑base percentage (OBP) as the highest among the American League clubs, partly thanks to Bichette’s 20+ walks. With an OBP hovering near .380, Toronto is in a position to generate sustained runs, which is essential in high‑stakes playoff games where run support can tip the balance.

The 2025 ALCS Outlook

As the 2025 ALCS approaches, the Blue Jays’ focus is on maintaining cohesion and avoiding the injuries that plagued other teams in prior years. The league’s statistical modeling predicts that the Jays have a 55% chance of reaching the ALCS, largely due to their robust offensive line and the defensive stability that Bichette brings at shortstop. Analysts from Baseball Prospectus emphasize the importance of Bichette’s “two‑way” contributions: his speed on the basepaths, ability to generate runs through stolen bases, and his defensive range to cover the most difficult plays.

Should the Blue Jays win the ALCS, the path to the World Series would involve facing a team with a dominant pitching staff—likely the Boston Red Sox or the Detroit Tigers, depending on the East Division standings. The Red Sox’s ace, Nathan Eovaldi, is listed as an elite starting pitcher in the league’s preseason outlook, while the Tigers’ prospect, Miguel Cabrera’s 2025 performance is expected to remain a threat. In either scenario, Bichette’s role would be pivotal in both hitting and fielding.

Conclusion: A Positive Narrative Amid Uncertainty

The Blue Jays’ 2025 season, at its core, is a story of resilience. Bo Bichette’s return from a hamstring strain and lower back tendinosis gives the team a central figure around whom they can build. The front office’s acquisitions of seasoned veterans, combined with the infusion of young talent from the draft, demonstrate a balanced approach that aims to mitigate injuries and maximize performance. With the 2025 ALCS only a few months away, the Blue Jays are setting a clear narrative: a team that is ready to compete at the highest level, with Bichette as its heartbeat.

This narrative is supported by the latest updates from the MLB website, the Blue Jays’ official communications, and the broader context of the league’s statistical trends. As the season unfolds, the health of Bo Bichette will remain a key storyline, but the organization’s holistic strategy gives fans a reason to look forward to a potential championship run.