TORONTO -- After returning from a seven-week absence in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, Bo Bichette is not in the Toronto Blue Jays' starting lineup for Game 2 on Saturday.
Bichette batted fourth and started at second base in Game 1 after never playing the position over his seven-year major league career. He went 1-for-2 with a walk before pinch runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa replaced him in the sixth inning. Kiner-Falefa will start at second base in Game 2.
Bichette will be available off the bench for Game 2.
"He felt pretty good after the game," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. "Checking in with him today, probably feels a little bit better than he expected. Again, when we put him on the roster, we did because we thought he could help us win, which he did yesterday, and keeping in mind that he hasn't played in seven weeks."
Bichette, 27, had not played in a game since spraining his left knee in a collision at home plate at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 6. His mobility was clearly limited, though he made a difficult play on a ground ball up the middle from Teoscar Hernandez in the third inning.
A free agent after this season, Bichette rebounded from an injury-plagued 2024 campaign to finish second in the majors with a .311 batting average with 18 home runs, 94 RBIs and an .840 OPS in 139 games.