As the playoffs get closer, the Toronto Blue Jays and their manager, John Schneider, are at a turning point. The team has won its first AL East title since 2015 and has a 94-68 record, which makes them the top seed. However, they are now facing an injury crisis that could ruin their chances of making the playoffs. As the team heads into the ALDS with two key players who are still up in the air, Schneider’s careful management of the roster has become the main focus.

Toronto’s offense came back strong, and Bo Bichette was one of the players who best represented that success. The shortstop’s strong second half made people forget about his problems in 2024. In his last 46 games, he had an amazing .370 batting average and .989 OPS. But on September 6, he collided with home plate and hurt his left knee, which has kept him out of action since then. It was ruled out that there was any structural damage, but the fact that Bichette hasn’t been around for the last stretch raises real concerns about whether he’s ready for the playoffs.

Schneider took a risky chance in the ALDS by talking about the Anthony Santander situation with cautious hope. The outfielder’s left shoulder injury has meant that he has missed more than half of the 2025 season. He only played in 54 games, where he hit .175 with six home runs and 18 RBIs. Schneider said he could “certainly envision him on the ALDS roster, and use him like we do everyone, kind of as we see fit,” even though these fitness issues had been going on for months.

The choice of possibly adding a player who hasn’t been completely healthy all season is a calculated risk. Schneider’s willingness to keep an eye on Santander’s progress over the next few days, though, shows that he is confident that the outfielder will be able to help the team in the postseason.

GM Ross Atkins also provided an update on Bichette’s injury, noting, “Every day has gotten better for him… he’s doing everything possible to be ready as soon as possible.” But Schneider’s admission that Bichette hasn’t started running yet is a cause for concern for Toronto faithful. The team is keeping a close eye on his recovery and hopes to start running drills soon. Toronto’s chances of winning the championship may depend on whether Bichette can get back to his old self and whether Schneider’s risky roster moves pay off when baseball starts in October.

While the Toronto Blue Jays deal with their injury problems, the team is now just watching the Wild Card battle.

Blue Jays Await Wild Card Winner as ALDS Schedule Takes Shape

The Red Sox won the first game 3-1 on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium, putting them one win away from a date with the Blue Jays in the ALDS. New York’s Game 2 on Wednesday is a do-or-die game. The Red Sox can end the series and make their way to Rogers Centre, but if the Yankees win Game 2on Thursday, Toronto will have to wait another day.

There were two different scheduling options for the first game set by Major League Baseball. If the Red Sox win, the first pitch will be at 1:08 p.m. ET on Saturday. If the Yankees win, the first pitch will be at 4:08 p.m. ET. No matter who wins the first game on Sunday, the second game will still start at 4:08 p.m. ET.

Toronto had home-field advantage in all the AL playoffs after beating Tampa Bay 13-4 on Sunday to win the division title. The Blue Jays won the AL East title by winning the season series against New York, even though both teams ended the season with the same number of points. The team stays ahead of the competition by having $10 scrimmages between its own players on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Each session lasts four to five innings.

Toronto wouldn’t mind seeing its competitors play a full three-game series. Longer Wild Card games wear out bullpen arms and rotation depth before Saturday, which could give the rested Blue Jays an early edge when the division series starts.