It was a moment that stopped the game and the heartbeats of Blue Jays fans everywhere. On September 6, Bo Bichette collided with Yankees catcher Austin Wells at home plate, crumpling to the ground with a left knee injury. The diagnosis came back: A sprained PCL. The Blue Jays were suddenly facing the challenge of finishing the regular season without their star shortstop. Yet hope isn’t lost.

While the regular season may have ended early for Bichette, the postseason still looms, and the Blue Jays remain locked in a tight race at the top of the AL East. Toronto has gone 6-2 without him, showing resilience and depth, but everyone knows the lineup feels different without the 181-hit, 44-double machine who’s batting .311 with 18 home runs and 94 RBIs this season. So, the question on everyone’s mind: Can Bichette return in time to make a difference in October?

Manager John Schneider provided a clear and optimistic update, humanizing the situation for fans. “It was good news, you know, the second opinion wasn’t any different than the first,” Schneider said. “We’re just covering all our bases. Bo’s here with us, and hopefully, he can start swinging and doing some activity even later this week. He’s been really open with how he’s feeling, and we’ll work with him to get back, hopefully at full capacity, and worst case, in some capacity for us.”

The timing of Bichette’s possible return is crucial. The Blue Jays are currently leading the AL East with an 89–62 record and could secure the division shortly. With the postseason breathing down the neck, there’s an opportunity for Bichette to heal and make an impact. Even if he cannot return to shortstop, his bat would be a valuable asset to the lineup.

At this stage, every day of rehab matters. Bichette’s return could be the difference between a deep postseason run and an early exit. Toronto has shown it can compete without him, but the heartbeat of the Blue Jays’ offense is waiting in Florida, ready to remind everyone why he’s one of the game’s most dynamic young stars.

Meanwhile, even before getting over the Bichette heartbreak or hopes, MLB brings some more bad news for fans.

MLB cancels 2026 London Series between Yankees and Blue Jays over scheduling conflicts

London baseball fans will have to wait a little longer for their next taste of Major League Baseball. MLB confirmed that its planned 2026 London Series, featuring the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays on June 13–14, has been canceled. The league ran into a perfect storm of scheduling problems.

West Ham United is set to host Leeds for its Premier League finale at London Stadium on May 24, leaving too little time to convert the pitch into a playable baseball field. Further complicating matters, FOX’s summer broadcast calendar is packed with men’s World Cup coverage, leaving no open window later in June to showcase the games in prime time.

This is a setback for MLB’s international efforts, which have been gaining momentum after successful series in Seoul, Mexico City, and London in previous years. The Yankees and Red Sox drew sellout crowds when they played in London in 2019, and the Mets-Phillies matchup last summer brought another wave of enthusiasm. Now, fans were eager to see Toronto’s powerhouse lineup, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., take on a Yankees team headlined by Aaron Judge on European soil.

Instead, MLB will concentrate on expanding its international presence in other regions. This mostly features regular-season games in Mexico City next April and grassroots efforts in India designed to engage cricket-loving fans.

Commissioner Rob Manfred struck an optimistic tone despite the cancellation, making clear that MLB is not done with London. “We remain interested in Europe. We think London is an important jumping-off point for us,” Manfred shared. “The stadium has come a long way since the first Yankees-Red Sox series, and we continue to believe there’s a real opportunity there.”

His remarks signal that MLB sees global expansion not as a one-off experiment, but as a long-term strategy, one that will eventually bring baseball back to Europe, with better timing and infrastructure to make it work.