#bo-bichette

#bo-bichette

The Blue Jays will get a big jolt of energy as they try and capture their first title since 1993, with Bo Bichette set to return to action for the first time since injuring his knee in early September. Bichette is in the lineup, batting fourth and playing second base for the first time in his MLB career. He took some grounders at second base in advance of the World Series and will get the nod at the position against Dodgers star left-hander Blake Snell.

It was a great rebound season for Bichette after a disastrous 2024. In 628 plate appearances, Bichette slashed .311/.357/.483 with 18 home runs for a 134 wRC+, the best mark of his career. His 181 hits finished second in the league, with only Bobby Witt Jr.'s 184 hits surpassing his total. It's worth noting that Bichette missed the final three weeks of the season. Witt Jr. is also nominated for the Silver Slugger Award at shortstop, as is Jeremy Peña of the Houston Astros.

The Jays still managed to make the playoffs without Bichette and have stayed alive in the postseason as well. With each new playoff series, it has been a question of whether Bichette has healed enough to make the roster but he hasn't been able to do so. If the Jays manage to hold off the Mariners tonight, there will be a few more days for recovery, as the World Series doesn't begin until Friday.

Tulowitzki played with the Blue Jays from 2015-2017 hitting .250/.313/.414 with 36 home runs, 122 RBIs and produced a 5.2 bWAR in 238 games while helping the Blue Jays to the AL East division title in 2015, and getting back to the post-season as a Wild Card team in 2016, while falling in the ALCS in both years.

Heading into Friday night's game, Bichette was leading all of baseball with 178 hits, just 13 shy of his career high of 191, which he achieved in 2021. It's two ahead of fellow shortstop Trea Turner who is having another great season with the Philadelphia Phillies. Turner's career high for hits is 195, which he also accomplished in 2021 when he started the year with the Nationals before being traded to the Dodgers.