Skip to main content

Bo Bichette hits fourth for first time this season as Blue Jays hope to create runs

All-star shortstop Bo Bichette hit fourth for the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of a critical three-game series with the New York Yankees.

Bichette's .301 batting average leads the Blue Jays this year and he's tied with outfielder George Springer for second most runs batted in with 71. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., has 94 RBIs.

"Just trying to get Bo up with guys on base, really," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider in his office before the game. "One of our best hitters with runners in scoring position.

"I know it looks very reactionary but it's something we've been talking about for a long time."

Bichette has hit second in the order all season but Toronto has been shut out by the Yankees in the first two games of their three-game set at Rogers Centre.

Michael King and Cy Young favourite Gerrit Cole did most of the work to keep the Blue Jays off the scoreboard in 2-0 and 6-0 victories on Tuesday and Wednesday. Cole's complete game shutout was especially impressive.

"(King and Cole) are good no matter how you lineup your nine," said Schneider. "It's something that we've talked about. It was (Springer) earlier in the year.

"Just trying to generate some more contact or do some damage with guys on base."

Toronto holds the second wild-card spot in the American League with four games left in the regular season, and a win over New York would help the club clinch a playoff berth.

The Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are chasing the Blue Jays in the playoff hunt. Houston had Thursday off and the Mariners hosted the Texas Rangers.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 28, 2023. 

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Ontario doctors disciplined over Israel-Gaza protests

A number of doctors are facing scrutiny for publicizing their opinions on the Israel-Hamas war. Critics say expressing their political views could impact patient care, while others say that it is being used as an excuse for censorship.

'No concessions' St-Onge says in $100M a year news deal with Google

The Canadian government has reached a deal with Google over the Online News Act that will see the tech giant pay $100 million annually to publishers, and continue to allow access to Canadian news content on its platform. This comes after Google had threatened to block news on its platform when the contentious new rules come into effect next month.

Live updates

Live updates Hamas frees 10 Israeli women and children, 4 Thai nationals

Ten Israeli women and children and four Thai nationals held captive in Gaza were freed by Hamas, and Israel followed with the release of a group of Palestinian prisoners Thursday. It was the latest exchange of hostages for prisoners under a temporary ceasefire in the Gaza war. Two Russian-Israeli women were also freed by Hamas in a separate release.

opinion

opinion Don Martin: With Trudeau resignation fever rising, a Conservative nightmare appears

With speculation rising that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will follow his father's footsteps in the snow to a pre-election resignation, political columnist Don Martin focuses on one Liberal cabinet minister who's emerging as leadership material -- and who stands out as a fresh-faced contrast to the often 'angry and abrasive' leader of the Conservatives.

Stay Connected