The stage is finally set for a historic October clash. The Toronto Blue Jays, rested after winning their first AL East title since 2015 and a first-round bye, now know their opponent. The New York Yankees just survived a do-or-die Wild Card series against the Boston Red Sox by winning back-to-back after losing Game 1, and will meet the Blue Jays for the first time in postseason history. But a massive shadow looms over Toronto and its superstar shortstop’s head.

Bo Bichette is in a desperate race against time to recover from a knee injury. Manager John Schneider once said he would take any version of Bichette he could get. “In a perfect world, if he can come back and play short, yeah, great,” Schneider said. “But if we can get his bat back, I’ll take it.”  But the problem is, even that seems like a long shot.

As reporter Keegan Matheson reported that the most telling clue about Bichette’s status was from his best friend, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. “We miss him and he knows we miss him,” Guerrero said. “I hope we can win this series and he comes back for the next one.” That statement confirms the team’s worst fears that Toronto is not expecting Bichette to be ready for the ALDS.

Bichette is recovering from a sprained PCL in his left knee, an injury he suffered on September 6th. And while he is taking swings and playing catch, there is one crucial hurdle he has not cleared. As Matheson reported, “So far, Bichette is still improving, still hitting and still throwing, but it’s difficult to put much stock into any update or timeline until we hear the magic words: ‘Bo Bichette has started running.'”

Bichette himself is pushing as hard as he can. “I will do everything I can in the next four or five days to see what we can do,” he said. But medical experts say a PCL sprain can limit mobility for up to 12 weeks. And though winning the division bought him an extra week of rest, it may not be enough for him to be ready by Saturday’s Game 1.

Losing Bichette, who is a free agent after the season and expected to have a market value of $186M as per Spotrac, creates a massive offensive gap. He was having a career year, hitting .311 with 18 home runs and team-leading 94 RBIs. Even after missing the final three weeks, Bichette finished second in the majors with 181 hits and 44 doubles, just after Bobby Witt Jr. Andres Gimenez has played shortstop in his absence, but has an OPS below .600, well below Bichette’s production.

And now, with their star shortstop likely sidelined, the Blue Jays have additional roster decisions to make ahead of their game against the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Other crucial questions about the Blue Jays’ roster

One of the most interesting decisions is looming around the pitching rotation. Rookie phenom Trey Yesavage was brilliant down the stretch and is expected to start a game in the series. Will he get his shot? The next bigger question is who will get the ball for a potential Game 4. The team has three options: veteran Max Scherzer, reliable Chris Bassitt, or lefty Eric Lauer. Manager John Schneider’s hesitation to use Scherzer out of the bullpen makes these questions more powerful.

Finally, all eyes are on Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who had a quiet September, but his manager isn’t worried. Schneider has seen Vladdy grow for years and knows he is ready for the moment. “Vlad has been through enough ups and downs in the postseason to be ready to step up,” Schneider said. And with Bichette out, the pressure now falls totally on Guerrero’s shoulders to carry the offense.

So, for now, the Blue Jays must survive this series for Bo to have a chance to return. If they can advance to the ALCS, the door opens for Bichette to come back, most likely as a designated hitter. And Manager John Schneider has perfectly framed the team’s new mission. “If he’s ready, we’ll obviously welcome him back with open arms,” Schneider said. “If he’s not, that’s another thing you want to play for: to keep going to get him back in the next round.” The goal is now to win for Bo.