Predicting the Blue Jays' 26-man Wild Card Series roster

Starting pitchers (3)

These three starters are guaranteed to be the ones the Blue Jays turn to, barring any freak injuries in the next 24-48 hours. We all know who is going to start Game 1, but the next two are a toss-up. Beyond that, Hyun Jin Ryu is going to be in the "just missed" column, as his start won't be needed and the bullpen is largely set, so he doesn't have a role (just yet).

Chris Bassitt

Bassitt set career highs in wins, starts, innings and strikeouts in his first season with the Blue Jays. He was an incredible presence in the starting rotation that could consistently be counted on to go deep into ballgames. Not sure if he starts G2 or G3 (if necessary), but he's going to be a key part of this postseason rotation.

José Berríos

That last sentence fully applies to Berríos as well. The right-hander was incredible in his second full season on the Blue Jays. His complete turnaround from 2022 was a welcomed sight, as he lowered his ERA from 5.23 to 3.65 and raised his ERA+ from 74 to 116. He went from a guaranteed rough outing last year to a guaranteed competitive one this year. Suddenly that long-term extension doesn't look so bad.

Kevin Gausman

It was Alek Manoah, not Gausman, that was supposed to be the "staff ace" of the Blue Jays in 2023. Instead Manoah had a season mired in drama and Gausman was a Cy Young contender once again. The 32-year-old made 31 starts for the Jays while making his second All-Star Game and leading the American League in strikeouts. He is the (unofficial as of now) Game 1 starter for the Jays.