The Blue Jays saw the entire left side of their starting infield exit today’s 7-10 loss against the Guardians with injuries this evening, as shortstop Bo Bichette left the game with right quad tightness while third baseman Matt Chapman departed with right middle finger inflammation, as relayed by The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath.
As things stand, it appears that Chapman’s injury is more serious than Bichette’s. As relayed by MLB.com, manager John Schneider told reporters that both players had been playing through the injuries they were removed over today. Schneider described Bichette’s removal from the game as precautionary. That’s an understandable decision, given the star shortstop just missed a couple of weeks with a right knee injury. Chapman’s ailment, on the other hand, is one Schneider notes that Chapman has been dealing with for “the past couple of weeks” after he jammed the finger while putting away a weight in the weight room. The issue was aggravated during an at-bat today, and Chapman will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of his injury. More details on both players’ situations seem likely to be available tomorrow.
Of course, even a short absence for either player could be devastating for Toronto. With today’s loss against the Guardians, the Jays are now playing .500 ball in July with a 12-12 record. Treading water this month has resulted in their record slipping to 71-60, 2.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot and just two games ahead of a Red Sox club they swept earlier in the month. Without Bichette and/or Chapman on the left side of the infield, things could get even more dire as Toronto looks to return to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2016 and just the third time in the organization’s history.
Both players have been key for the Jays this season. Bichette has been a stable force at the top of the club’s lineup with a .316/.346/.491 slash line in 113 games combined with strong defense at shortstop. Chapman, meanwhile, was the hottest player on the planet for the first six weeks of the season with a 1.004 OPS on May 10. While he’s cooled considerably since then, he remains perhaps the best defensive third baseman in the sport and has the power to be a threat even when in the midst of a slump.
In the event either player needs time off, the club seems likely to turn to a bench consisting of Cavan Biggio, Santiago Espinal, and Davis Schneider. Biggio (90 wRC+) and Espinal (62 wRC+) have both struggled this season but have past success as regulars on their resume, while Schneider has just 40 plate appearances to his name in the majors but has made the most of them by slashing a sensational .424/.525/.848 in a part time role for Toronto this season.
Death blow for Toronto if they both require a trip to the IL, or miss even 5-7 games.
Bo yes but Chapman no.
If Chapman needs an IL stint I hope they give Barger or Martinez a chance, heck both should be up for Sep 1, Espinal has no business being in the majors.
Jays have managed this year like it’s the first year of a long window vs a critical year quickly approaching a rebuild
and speaking as a long time A’s fan, Chapman is easily overwhelmed by a lot of the better playoff pitchers.
Soft schedule the next couple weeks. Not quite the death blow but pretty close.
they just lost 2 to the Clevelands. Softness of schedule means nothing to this team.
Where did your image go! Wtf your not Dorothy_Mantooth anymore!
Didn’t the Blue Jay’s just DFA Paul DeJong? Then he subsequently signed with the Giants? 3/44 or not, he played major league defense at SS
Gosh, if we read or hear about Chapman being the “hottest hitter on the planet” for the first 6 weeks of the season……its 3 1/2 months later for Christs sake……he’s right back at where he always is….a .240 hitter offensively…….
Bichette is a cream puff
Bichette happens
What is a 7-10 loss?
Losing 10 to 7
ChatGPT strikes again…
Fortunately for Toronto, Seattle is no longer chasing them for a wild card.
Sorry, but wouldn’t that be “Unfortunately for the Blue Jays…” ?? Because if that was true, the Blue Jays would be in possession of a Wild Card, which they are not at this point. Sorry for being pedantic.
It’s called ‘ribbing’.
Who’s the right manager for the Blue Jays 2024-onward?
Schneider has been as good of a substitute teacher as one could ask for, if you take out the odd decision to remove Davis from the game…Schneider does
Whoever will stick to the script provided by the front office will be the 2024 manager.
Don Mattingly he’s there bench coach, I’d imagine that’s y they took him on before the year started incase Schneider failed
Better off with Dee Schneider- he’s not gonna take it
7-10 loss. Come on
Dejong ?
7-10 loss?! That is so cringe.
Time to see what some hungry prospects with good approaches at the plate can do.
I usually watch the game on delay so I can skip commercials but when it gets to Chapman I just click ahead because it’s too painful watching him take a pitch down the middle and then swinging at one in the dirt it way outside.
Jays are headed the wrong way as it is. It kills me as a Jays fan, but with their threadbare minor league system a rebuild is coming sooner than we would have guessed two years ago. This fall is probably too soon but if they miss the playoffs anything is possible.
7 – 10 loss sounds like the likely outcome of a bad bowling situation.
Bichette Chapman exit stage left. Bluebirds exit stage right. Here comes the vaudeville cane
Toronto has just not looked good in the second half with a 21-19 record. This can’t bode well for their playoff chances. I think it’s time for management to realize that this attempt to corner the market on the sons of famous players is just not working out. It would make sense to trade them off and rebuild their team again in the off-season.
Having said that, they have a really easy schedule coming up in the next 12 games. Washington, Colorado, Oakland & KC. If they don’t take at least 10 or more from that stretch of games, I’d say they’re done for the season.
Springer, Gausman, Berrios, Bassitt are all signed for 2-5 more years.
Next year FAs are Hicks, Chapman, Merrifield, belt, KK.
I agree it looks gloomy, but there is zero chance the jays trade any core players this off-season unless it’s for a MLB player back. They are going to try to compete for another year or two atleast before selling off, especially when they are doing major Renos to the stadium and my seasons got 50% more expensive
Those four guys will be 34, 33, 30, and 35 next year.