Blue Jays Roundtable: Who ought to make wild card roster vs. Twins?

TORONTO — Now that we all know who the Blue Jays are enjoying within the wild-card spherical, the query turns into who they take with them.

By Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET the Blue Jays should resolve which 26 gamers they’ll roster towards the Twins this week in Minneapolis. Till then, supervisor John Schneider will focus on numerous choices with the teaching employees and entrance workplace, making an allowance for the efficiency of his personal gamers and the strengths and weaknesses of the Twins.

Whereas we await closing phrase from the Blue Jays, we polled our MLB writers for his or her beneficial rosters:

Watch Blue Jays vs. Twins in Wild Card spherical on Sportsnet

The Toronto Blue Jays head to Minnesota to face the Twins within the best-of-three Wild Card spherical. Watch each recreation on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+ starting Oct. 3.

Watch Recreation 1 on Oct. 3

Watch Recreation 2 on Oct. 4

Recreation 3 on Oct. 5 (if neccessary, time TBD)

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Shi Davidi

Pitchers (12): Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi, Jordan Romano, Jordan Hicks, Yimi Garcia, Chad Inexperienced, Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza, Genesis Cabrera, Trevor Richards

Reasoning: There may be all the time a nightmare situation you’ll be able to concoct to justify carrying 13 pitchers for 3 video games, however the odds are so towards it occurring, I really feel like there’s extra utility within the further place participant. Gausman, Bassitt and Berrios are a formidable entrance three and Kikuchi provides safety in case catastrophe strikes throughout an outing.

Within the bullpen is the present group, giving John Schneider ample room to run with leverage arms from the fifth inning onwards. There’s an argument to be made for taking Bowden Francis over Richards, however the latter has been part of the group for the previous two-and-a-half years and was having a sensational season earlier than the final month and regardless of that, has struck out 103 batters in 70 innings. So long as he’s utterly wholesome, he needs to be on the roster.

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Place Gamers (14): Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Belt, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman, Daulton Varsho, Whit Merrifield, Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, Davis Schneider, Cam Eden

Reasoning: Bear in mind Dalton Pompey within the 2015 playoffs? That’s what the Blue Jays are hoping Eden could be and with Kirk and Belt within the lineup, there’s actually utility in a primarily-speed participant. Ideally, they’d have discovered extra alternatives for him to get some reps over the previous couple of weeks however even when he’s not stealing bases, he’s proven the power to make good reads and the velocity to place stress on a defence.

Schneider has cooled since his historic begin — it’s not possible that he wouldn’t have — however his energy is sensible off the bench. In any other case, there aren’t any actual debates right here and the Blue Jays will lean closely on the lineup they used over the previous week, with a matchup tweak right here and there.

David Singh

Pitchers (12): Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi, Jordan Romano, Jordan Hicks, Yimi Garcia, Chad Inexperienced, Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza, Genesis Cabrera, Bowden Francis

Reasoning: Nothing shocking in these picks. Probably the most noteworthy participant absent is Trevor Richards, who’s changed within the bullpen with right-hander Bowden Francis.

Richards struggled mightily in September, permitting 16 runs on 14 hits and 11 walks over 11.1 innings. Francis, in the meantime, has been an underrated cog within the bullpen throughout his numerous stints with the big-league membership.

The rookie’s function wasn’t thrilling — he soaked up innings principally when the Blue Jays had been behind in video games — however he dealt with his enterprise and confirmed glorious command, posting a 1.73 ERA over 36.1 innings, hanging out 35 whereas strolling simply eight.

Francis’s function shouldn’t change within the post-season, however you might argue these mop-up innings that apply gauze to break turn into much more essential in October.

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Place gamers (14): Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Belt, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman, Daulton Varsho, Whit Merrifield, Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, Davis Schneider, Cam Eden

Reasoning: Enterprise as normal right here, because it’s the identical 14 place gamers the Blue Jays deployed to finish the season.

We noticed this at play all yr, but it surely’s value mentioning as soon as once more the kind of versatility this group supplies for supervisor John Schneider.

Merrifield’s capacity to play the outfield might be an element, whereas Biggio could be slotted just about wherever with full confidence. He’s my guess to writer a signature second early within the post-season.

I’ll admit I wasn’t initially on the Eden prepare. Nonetheless, after chatting with colleague Ben Nicholson-Smith and studying his piece on the speedy outfielder, I’m totally on board. Could be thrilling to see how his velocity may change the complexion of a late-inning rally.

Extra from Sportsnet

Blue Jays will face Twins in wild-card spherical: ‘Now we’ve acquired to place it collectively’

Blue Jays rejoice wild-card berth with champagne occasion: ‘Proper the place we needs to be’

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Ben Nicholson-Smith

Pitchers (12): Kevin Gausman, Chris Bassitt, Jose Berrios, Yusei Kikuchi, Jordan Romano, Jordan Hicks, Yimi Garcia, Chad Inexperienced, Erik Swanson, Tim Mayza, Genesis Cabrera, Bowden Francis

Reasoning: The highest three starters are apparent decisions and Kikuchi’s beneficial in case a recreation goes extras (bear in mind, there aren’t any ghost runners within the post-season) or as insurance coverage in case a starter takes a line drive off a leg. He might be utilized in shorter stints, too.

A lot of the reduction decisions are equally clear, aside from Bowden Francis over Trevor Richards (and Hyun Jin Ryu). That’s the hardest resolution I see for the Blue Jays this week, except they go together with 13 pitchers for a three-game sequence as they did in 2022.

It will really feel fallacious to not embrace Richards, who has been an important a part of this group all yr, however he’s struggled in current weeks and the Twins led the American League in dwelling runs — Richards’ Achilles heel. Plus, Francis provides extra size.

This configuration provides as much as a complete of 9 relievers, relatively than 10, however we’re speaking a couple of three-game sequence with off days on both facet. 9 needs to be sufficient.

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Place Gamers (14): Alejandro Kirk, Tyler Heineman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Belt, Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, Bo Bichette, Matt Chapman, Daulton Varsho, Whit Merrifield, Kevin Kiermaier, George Springer, Davis Schneider, Cam Eden

Reasoning: The Blue Jays have 11 gamers who’re primarily locks, as they’re positive to roster their beginning 9 plus Merrifield and Heineman, their backup catcher. And when you permit for 14 place gamers, you’ll be able to broaden your bench with three distinct talent units.

In Schneider, you’ve energy off the bench ought to the Blue Jays discover themselves trailing late, possibly with Daulton Varsho or Cavan Biggio up towards a tricky left-hander. Espinal’s helpful in comparable conditions, however you’re extra seemingly to make use of him whenever you want contact versus dwelling run energy. He’s additionally your backup shortstop.

As for Eden, there’s a transparent pinch-running function for him on a group the place Kirk and Belt are beginning on daily basis. Down one within the seventh, as an example, or tied within the eighth. With that in thoughts, there’s a non-zero probability he scores a number of the Blue Jays’ greatest runs of 2023. In truth, even when the Blue Jays roster simply 13 place gamers, Eden needs to be considered one of them.

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