The Blue Jays have placed Shane Bieber on the injured list.
On Sunday, we wrote that the Toronto Blue Jays should feel confident in their ability to make the playoffs because of a very advantageous schedule that faces them over the final 30 games.
Over the last 30 games, the Blue Jays do not play one single game against a team currently over .500. They also play several teams directly around them in the playoff race, including the Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners.
However, the optimism for the Jays took a big hit on Tuesday afternoon, as Mitch Bannon of 'The Athletic' reports that the club has placed right-hander Shane Bieber on the injured list with a right teres major strain. Chad Dallas has been called up in his place. Bieber had been slated to start on Wednesday in Game 2 of a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.
About Bieber's season
The right-hander has only made 11 starts this season, and didn't appear in a game until late June after spending most of the first three months on the injured list with "right forearm fatigue," which stems from a Tommy John surgery he had in 2024.
However, he's been pretty good - and an integral part of holding the Jays patchwork rotation together. He's 5-2 with a 4.53 ERA in those 11 starts, and he's delivered back-to-back quality starts. He gave up just two total runs in 13 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees in his last two outings.
Toronto Blue Jays start pitcher Shane Bieber (57) throws a pitch against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Nick Turchiaro-Imagn ImagesAbout Bieber's career
A nine-year veteran of the Cleveland Guardians and Blue Jays, Bieber has gone 71-36 for his career with a 3.32 ERA. The American League Cy Young winner in 2020, he's also a two-time All-Star. The Blue Jays acquired him at the trade deadline in 2025 and he was crucial in the playoffs, going 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five games (four starts). He started Game 7 of the American League Championship Series against the Mariners, helping Toronto get the win to advance to the World Series.
He surprisingly exercised his player option over the offseason to stay with Toronto, but he'll be a free agent this offseason.
Of course, no one knows what this offseason will look like because of the labor issues ahead with regards to the collective bargaining agreement.
Up next
The Blue Jays will open up a three-game series with the Royals on Tuesday night. Max Scherzer will pitch against Seth Lugo.
