Heading into the 2025 World Series, Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays was on the mend, recovering from a knee sprain that had kept him sidelined for over a month. However, immediately after the Blue Jays dispatched the Seattle Mariners in the ALCS, Bichette declared that he would be returning against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
True to his word, Bichette started in Game 1 of the World Series, helping the Blue Jays to an 11-4 victory. He went 1-for-2 at the plate with one walk before Isiah Kiner-Falefa pinch-ran for him. Despite this promising return, the Blue Jays have continued to handle Bichette with caution.
For Game 2, Bichette was out of the starting lineup, with Kiner-Falefa taking his place at second base. Bichette only appeared as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. This cautious approach likely reflects Toronto’s wariness about Bichette’s injury-ravaged knee — reluctant to throw him directly into the high-stakes intensity of back-to-back World Series games.
However, the Blue Jays plan to take a more assertive approach in Game 3. Manager John Schneider revealed that Bichette will be starting at second base on Monday as Toronto looks to regain control of the series, according to Arden Zwelling of MLB.com. Notably, Bichette is normally the team’s regular shortstop, so his shift to second base is a sign that Toronto is still bringing him along slowly.
With stakes this high, and facing a Dodgers team boasting perhaps the deepest starting rotation in MLB, the Blue Jays cannot afford to let Bichette’s bat go to waste. Barring unforeseen developments, the Blue Jays will be facing Tyler Glasnow to start Game 3 against the Dodgers, while hoping Max Scherzer can deliver a few quality innings later in the game.
### Can the Blue Jays’ Offense Awaken Against Dodgers’ Elite Starting Pitching?
For Toronto, the key to success in the World Series lies in getting to the Dodgers’ bullpen. In Game 1, the Blue Jays managed to chase Blake Snell out of the game after scoring five runs off him. Afterward, they added six more runs, capitalizing on an unreliable Dodgers bullpen.
In contrast, the Dodgers’ lone starter in Game 2, Yamamoto, threw a complete game, shutting down the Blue Jays’ offense. Going into Game 3, the Blue Jays must focus on preventing Glasnow from settling into a groove, thereby forcing Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to rely on his bullpen.
If Toronto can execute this plan effectively, they stand a solid chance of seizing control of the series and advancing their quest for the championship.
https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-news-bo-bichette-gets-major-outlook-for-crucial-world-series-game-3-vs-dodgers
