**Title: Bichette, Bassitt, and Scherzer Excluded from Blue Jays' ALDS Roster**

The Toronto Blue Jays have finalized their roster for the American League Division Series against the New York Yankees, leaving out star shortstop Bo Bichette, veteran pitcher Chris Bassitt, and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer. Bichette, who has not played since injuring his left knee on September 6, was not expected to be included. He has not resumed running or hitting off live pitching since the injury.

Bichette, a pending free agent, had a standout season, leading the team with a .311 batting average and 62 extra-base hits. However, his recovery has not progressed enough for him to contribute. "He’s going to continue to build up," said Blue Jays manager John Schneider. "Hopefully we can give him some more time to keep ramping up. His hitting and throwing is coming along, but he’s still got to get out and run and see some velo."

The roster submitted on Saturday morning is locked for the entire series, with adjustments only allowed for injured players. If a player is replaced, they cannot return for the remainder of the series or the next one if the team advances.

Scherzer's exclusion was anticipated due to his recent struggles, including a 9.00 ERA in his last six starts. He had difficulty in the first innings, which contributed to the decision to leave him off the roster. Scherzer finished the regular season with a 5.19 ERA in 17 starts after signing a one-year, $15.5 million contract.

Bassitt's omission was more surprising. Although he had not pitched in an official game since September 18 due to lower back inflammation, he had been throwing in side sessions and participated in an intrasquad game. Schneider noted that while Bassitt was healthy enough to be included, the team opted for a roster with 10 relievers instead.

The Blue Jays plan to utilize a bullpen game for Game 4 if the series extends that far, relying on a mix of relievers rather than a traditional starter. Schneider acknowledged the difficulty of the conversations with Bassitt and Scherzer but emphasized the need for the team to focus on the current situation. "They’re going to do everything they need to do to stay ready for the next round, hopefully if we’re there, and be a big part of it," he said.

In terms of pitching strategy, lefty Eric Lauer is expected to play a significant role against the Yankees, who have a lineup featuring many left-handed hitters. Lauer had a solid season, posting a 3.18 ERA in 28 games. Schneider highlighted Lauer's importance, stating, "He was one of our best pitchers of the season. Understanding that he can offer a little bit of length kind of played into that."

The Blue Jays also announced that rookie right-hander Trey Yesavage will start Game 2, followed by veteran Shane Bieber in Game 3. The decision to include left-hander Justin Bruihl on the roster was made to counter the Yankees' left-heavy lineup, which features six left-handed hitters. Schneider explained the rationale behind the roster decisions, emphasizing the need for options against the Yankees' powerful lefties.

Utility player Ty France was also left off the roster due to a lack of sufficient preparation time after recovering from a strained oblique. Schneider noted, "He’s okay, just kind of wish he had a few more days to get some more bats. A lot goes into it. I think he just wasn’t quite caught up with his timing, but he was healthy enough to go."