Kirk (hand) will start at catcher and bat sixth Saturday in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers.
Kirk made an early exit from Game 6 on Friday after getting hit on his left hand by a pitch. X-rays on his hand came back negative shortly after the game, and he'll officially remain in the starting nine for the final game of the World Series. Kirk has slashed .265/.361/.482 with five homers, 13 RBI and 13 runs scored across 77 plate appearances this postseason.
Gausman took the loss in Game 6 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings.
Gausman appeared to be on his way toward a historic performance after two innings, using his splitter to record five swinging strikeouts against the first six batters he faced. His fortunes shifted quickly in the third, however, as an RBI double from Will Smith began the scoring for Los Angeles, and Mookie Betts' two-RBI single extended the Dodgers' lead to 3-0. Gausman didn't allow another batter to reach base for the remainder of his start, but with Toronto's offense unable to get going against Yoshinobu Yamamoto, three runs proved to be all the Dodgers needed to force a Game 7. It's unlikely that Gausman will be available to pitch in Saturday's finale, so he'll finish the 2025 postseason with a 2.93 ERA and 0.91 WHIP to go with a 26:11 K:BB across 30.2 innings.
Kirk will undergo X-rays on his left hand after getting hit by a pitch in Game 6 of the World Series on Friday, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Kirk took an 85-mph splitter off his hand in the ninth inning of Friday's contest and was immediately replaced on the bases by a pinch runner. The Jays are optimistic that the 26-year-old backstop avoided a significant injury, but they'll send him in for imaging as a precaution. If Kirk is unable to start in the final game of the World Series on Saturday, Tyler Heineman would get the nod at catcher.
Blue Jays' Max Scherzer: Would start potential Game 7
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday that Scherzer would start a potential Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday versus the Dodgers, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
The Blue Jays are hoping to close things out with a win Friday in Game 6, but if that doesn't happen, they'll turn to the 41-year-old Saturday. Scherzer was charged with three runs over 4.1 frames in Game 3, taking a no-decision in Toronto's extra-innings loss. It would be an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Blue Jays if there is a Game 7, so Scherzer's leash would be short.
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Blue Jays' Bo Bichette: Not anticipating knee surgery
Rotowire
Bichette said Friday that he does not expect to require surgery this offseason to repair a PCL sprain in his left knee, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Bichette was diagnosed with a sprained knee in early September and missed seven weeks of action before rejoining the Blue Jays' roster for the World Series. He has been noticeably gimpy, but Bichette expects his knee injury to heal with rest. The impending free agent slashed .311/.357/.483 over 139 regular-season games and is 5-for-16 at the plate so far in the World Series.
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Blue Jays' George Springer: Back in lineup for Game 6
Rotowire
Springer (side) will bat leadoff and serve as the designated hitter in Friday's World Series Game 6 against the Dodgers.
Springer did not play in Games 4 or 5 after exiting Game 3 with discomfort in his right side, but he's improved enough to give it a go as the Fall Classic moves back to Toronto. The 36-year-old Springer has an .884 OPS with four home runs over 14 contest this postseason.
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