Blue Jays Announce Shane Bieber Decision Before Brewers Game

"Blue Jays list Shane Bieber as their probable starter for Wednesday's series finale at [Cincinnati] Reds, his first outing on normal rest since returning," he reported. "

"Series matchups:

Monday - Chris Bassitt vs. Hunter Greene

Tuesday - Jose Berrios vs. Nick Lodolo

Wednesday - Shane Bieber vs. Zack Littell," he continued.

Bieber made his first two appearances a week apart, which is longer than the usual five days. The fact that the right-hander is now ready to space his starts in typical interviews shows that he's fully recovered from his surgery, just in time for the stretch run.

Shane Bieber Could Be Blue Jays' Timeliest Acquisition In Years

Toronto made a classic "win-now" decision when it sent pitching prospect Khal Stephen and catcher Brandon Valenzuela to the Cleveland Guardians for Bieber at the trade deadline. The 30-year-old hadn't pitched in 15 months and has a $16 million player option for 2026, so he wasn't a sure thing long-term. However, it made sense to take that risk given the club's success this season.

The Blue Jays entered Sunday two games ahead of the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East and a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for the AL's top seed. If they win the division, it'll be the first time since 2015. They'd also clinch their first ALDS appearance since 2016 if they finish as a top-two division winner.

When an organization that hasn't won the World Series since 1993 has that type of season, going all-in is a no-brainer. Bieber could be the difference between a playoff exit and a championship if he performs well in October.

Toronto will try to avoid getting swept at home by Milwaukee on Sunday.