As the Blue Jays look to lock up the American League East for the first time in a decade, they've elected to push the former Cy Young winner back in the rotation.
The Toronto Blue Jays have elected to push starting pitcher Shane Bieber back in the rotation, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com.
Instead of starting Thursday against the Boston Red Sox, Bieber will now start Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. That game will be played at Rogers Centre at 3:07 p.m. ET.
At this point, it's unclear the reasoning for the shift, but with the Jays up just one game in the American League East, it seems odd that they would move Bieber back for no reason at all. Toronto enters play on Wednesday at 90-67 and just one game ahead of the New York Yankees in the division. They are looking to wrap up their first division title since 2015.
Furthermore, the Jays have the inside track at the No. 1 seed and homefield advantage in the looming playoffs. They are two games ahead of the Seattle Mariners in that regard, and they have the tiebreaker on Seattle. These games all have immense importance for the Jays.
Bieber's year
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. William Purnell-Imagn ImagesBieber began the year on the injured list after missing nearly all of 2024 with Tommy John surgery. He was traded from the Cleveland Guardians to the Blue Jays at the trade deadline and has now made six starts. The 30-year-old California native is 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA. He's struck out 34 batters in 35.1 innings. He pairs with Chris Bassitt, Kevin Gausman, Max Scherzer, and Trey Yesavage in the rotation, with Berrios serving as an additional option.
Bieber's career
An eight-year veteran of the Guardians and Blue Jays, Bieber has gone 65-34 in his career with a 3.24 ERA. He won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020 when he went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA (12 starts). That was the COVID shortened campaign, and Bieber led baseball in WAR (3.2, per Baseball Reference).
He will be a free agent at the end of this season.
What's next
The Blue Jays and Red Sox will play on Wednesday at 7:07 p.m. ET. Scherzer will pitch against Garrett Crochet, who figures to get major consideration for the American League Cy Young Award.
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