LOS ANGELES — Sunday was a quiet one at Dodger Stadium for the Toronto Blue Jays. With only a handful of players even making the trip to the ballpark for the off-day workout following an early-morning arrival, that made sense.
About the only eventful activity for some players was needed time on the massage table.
One piece of news did emerge, though, with manager John Schneider revealing that Bo Bichette is expected to be in the lineup at second base on Monday for a pivotal Game 3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series, which is tied 1-1.
“He’s out here working out today,” Schneider said. “Felt good coming out of yesterday. I think with each day that goes on, he’ll probably get as close to normal as he can at this stage of the year. But the fact that he’s out here working out today is a good sign and expect him to be in there tomorrow.”
Bichette returned to the lineup in Friday’s Game 1 after missing nearly two months with a left knee sprain and played six innings at second base, marking the first time in his MLB career that he manned any position other than shortstop.
He didn’t start Game 2, a clear indication that he’s not at full strength, but did enter as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning and remained at second for the remainder of the Blue Jays’ 5-1 loss.
“It’s not easy,” shortstop Andres Gimenez said of Bichette’s positional switch. “That’s why I have such respect for him because he’s changing positions right now at this stage where everything is really important. But we’re professionals, we know what we can do. And he’s showing that he can play second at a good level.
“I’m just happy to see Bo come back,” added Gimenez. “I know how hard he’s been working in the training room and the weight room just to get back at this point. The Blue Jays organization and the World Series means a lot for him.”
AN ADDED DOSE OF ‘GAMESMANSHIP’
As the World Series heads to Los Angeles for three games, teams will contend with a new element of strategy that wasn’t as significant over the first two contests. There will be three straight games without an off day and that will in turn shift more of the spotlight to the relievers.
It’s fair to say that the weak link of both the Blue Jays and the Dodgers is the bullpen, with the former’s relief corps owning a 5.43 ERA in the post-season while the latter has a 6.16 ERA. As a result, there will be a focus from the two offences on trying to wear down the opposing starter and get into the bullpen early, so as to tax those relievers over the course of the next three days.
“It starts on the mound with the starter,” said Schneider. “If you can churn through some innings and even if it’s just saving one, winning here or there for one of your bullpen guys, that’s huge.”
Added Dodgers manager Dave Roberts: “It’s critical. We are comprised of a rotation that can log innings. But three in a row is very important to vary reliever looks and kind of get the optimum matchups that you can.”
The Blue Jays were mindful that different parts of the Seattle Mariners’ lineup faced different relievers throughout the American League Championship Series and you can expect that to be the case against the Dodgers, as well.
“That’s where the adjustments come in, that’s where the gamesmanship comes in,” said Schneider. “You have to be able to adapt and show a guy a different look, a different pitch, a different location. So, it’s a battle.
“These guys have really good stuff, our guys have really good stuff. We have really good hitters, they have really good hitters, so it comes down to making one pitch at a time, not being predictable.”
“I don’t want to get too far into it. I just arrived about 30 minutes ago. So there was some delays. I don’t know if there was intent or not. But, man, the international stuff was a bear. But we made it. We made it.”
— Roberts, who was asked about the trip from Toronto to Los Angeles.
