Chris Bassitt may not be the starting pitcher for game #4

John Schneider has decided that Kevin Gausman will pitch tonight. We knew that.

We also learned, in the last few minutes, that Trey Yesavage and Shane Bieber will pitch games #2 and #3. This is no surprise, since it's the same as in the other series.

Keeping Bieber on the road, in a hitter's ballpark to limit home runs, is a good idea. And keeping Yesavage at home, like the other time, is a defensible logic.

By the way, speaking of Yesavage, he's the fifth-best starter still alive, according to MLB. #NothingLess

Two @Dodgers sit atop the Pitcher Power Rankings heading into the LCS

(MLB x @SageUSAmerica) pic.twitter.com/3kmpdU4LSB

– MLB (@MLB) October 12, 2025

The Blue Jays have two other starting pitchers on their hands: Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. They weren't in the lineup against the Yankees, but they're there for the championship series.

So, what's the plan for them?

Manager John Schneider said Bassitt was ready to come out of the bullpen at any time. He's getting better (he missed the end of the season and the first few playoff games with an injury) and he's ready for anything.

One imagines that the club would like to avoid having to use him in the first two games in order to keep him in the three games in three nights in a row (games 3 to 5) in Seattle.

What about Scherzer? He's better (neck problems have prevented him from performing well, according to the manager) and the Blue Jays would have more confidence in him to start a game.

The goal? Save him for game #4.

https://twitter.com/MitchBannon/status/1977466340928585801

So, listening to the manager, you get the sense that the plan is to get Scherzer to start Game #4, but that they don't want to commit too quickly. After all, Yesavage and Bieber have been confirmed… but not the match #4 starter.

Interesting, given that Bassitt looked like a Game #4 starter.

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