Bichette’s numbers this year are still down from 2021-23, but he’s hitting the ball as hard as ever while also posting the best strikeout rate of his career and a groundball rate better than his career norm. He’s starting to be rewarded for it, too; he has four homers in his last eight games, matching his total from his first 54 games this season and also the 81 games he played last year.

Bichette smacked a run-scoring double off of Jacob Lopez during the Blue Jays’ eight-run uprising in the second inning. He then victimized Anthony Maldonado for a 383-foot (104.7 mph EV) solo shot in the fourth inning that made it 10-0. The 27-year-old shortstop has done a nice job atop the Jays’ lineup this season, slashing .277/.324/.426 with six long balls, 30 RBI and four stolen bases in his first 56 games.

Bichette was meant to have his first day off of the season Wednesday as he battled back tightness. He was in the lineup Tuesday, but as the designated hitter. Yet, with a scoreless tie in the ninth inning, he was called upon to pinch hit and delivered the decisive blow. He could’ve been battling this back issue for the better part of the last week as he’d gone 1-for-19 before hitting this home run.

It’s a rare day off for Bichette, who has played pretty much every game this season in his walk year. The 27-year-old shortstop got off to a sizzling-hot start, but he’s faded recently, batting .246/.301/.405 with four homers, 12 RBI and two steals over his last 30 games. Hopefully the extra break enables him to put the back issue to bed and get back on track at the dish. It’ll be Ernie Clement taking over at shortstop on Wednesday evening in his place.