GDB 141.0: Bo Bichette returns as Toronto Blue Jays open three game set against Kansas City Royals

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

The Royals, that is, aren’t in Kansas anymore heading north of the 49th parallel to open a three-game set with the Toronto Blue Jays Friday night.

For the Jays, it marks the final three games of a 15-game stretch against sub-.500 teams. Things started out rough for the Jays going 1-2 losing their first series against the Cleveland Guardians, but they roared back with three straight series wins against the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics.

Each of the three series were taken 2-1 in favour of Toronto, so heading into this final bought with the Royals, they’re working with a 7-5 record — not exactly ideal, but not the worst, either. It’s a big reason why the Jays need to have a big, big series here against the Royals.

Ahead of this stretch, I figured the Jays needed to go 10-5, which would allow them to have a .563 W-L% out of this stretch. That’s because in each of the last five years, the final wild card team in the AL has had, on average, that same W-L%.

That means the Jays will need to get a clean sweep of the Royals this weekend.

What will undoubtedly play into their benefit is the return of Bo Bichette from the IL. After suffering patellar tendinitis in a July 31 game that came with a stint on the IL itself, Bichette returned in August, but began dealing with some tightness in his quadriceps.

Let’s hope that all his issues with that leg are healed up, because now is the time where the Jays could use him the most.

First pitch: 7:07 p.m EST — Sportsnet, Sportsnet 650.

Toronto Blue Jays: 77-63, 11.5 GB, 12 E#, – WCGB, +73 DIFF.

Kansas City Royals: 44-97, 29.5 GB, E E#, 33.5 WCGB, -179 DIFF.

Moneyline: TOR -263; KCR +215.

*Odds at the time of publishing. Odds subject to change.

Tune into the latest edition of Blue Jays Nation Radio as the crew talks about the Jays’ latest series against the Oakland Athletics.