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

Infielders (8)

This group is pretty straightforward. The only thing even close to a question mark was the inclusion of Santiago Espinal over someone like Ernie Clement. Espinal has a weak bat and so-so defensive chops, but is the more experienced of the two and will likely beat Clement out for a spot.

Brandon Belt

Belt is one of many obvious choices on this list, but he deserves some love regardless. Making it into over 100 games for the first time since 2019, he did absolutely everything the Blue Jays needed from him and more this year. In fact, he led the team in OPS+ (136) and seemed to put together competitive at-bats every single time he stepped up to the plate.

Bo Bichette

Bichette is one of the best hitters in the game of baseball and also deserves some love for the defensive strides he took this year. His 1.2 dWAR is a career high and he made just eight errors all year which is ridiculously good.

Cavan Biggio

Many around the league (including quite a few of us over at Jays Journal) were calling for Biggio's removal from the team after his first-half performance that saw him produce a .197 batting average in 57 games. To his credit, he followed that up with a .272 mark in the second half, posting an OPS+ of 116 with 22 runs driven in. He is an important part of this team thanks to his improving bat and defensive versatility.

Matt Chapman

Speaking of poor production at the plate, Chapman was the best hitter the game has ever seen through the first month or so of the season, but cooled off to the point where it's almost worth wondering if the Blue Jays' pitchers might've had better luck at the dish. He remains one of the best defensive third basemen in the game, though, which is where virtually all of his value lies as of right now. He's good for a home run here and there, but the pending free agent is likely playing his last games as a Blue Jay.

Santiago Espinal

Espinal's calling card is the fact that he can play all over the infield and is good for a clutch hit here and there. He had an OPS+ of 80 this year and was primarily an oft-used backup, which is the exact role he'll function in during the postseason.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladdy is going to have a postseason for the ages, you just wait.

Whit Merrifield

Merrifield was a solid contributor for the Blue Jays this year and while his bat cooled off a bit as time went by, his versatility, speed and on-base abilities will be put to the test in the playoffs. He's a lock.

Davis Schneider

Cold streak be damned, Schneider is making this roster. He made it into just 35 games for the Blue Jays this year but did more than enough to earn a spot on this roster and the 2024 Opening Day one as well. His 2-for-4 performance in Game 162 was much needed and is hopefully all he needed to get the bat going for the playoffs.