Guardians Receive Unfortunate Shane Bieber News Before Yankees Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Joshua Valdez | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 6:46 PM ET

Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Shane Bieber was once the best in baseball. The 30-year-old won the AL Cy Young Award in 2020 and won the Triple Crown (wins, ERA, and strikeouts). However, he only pitched two games last season due to his UCL injury and has yet to return from Tommy John surgery.

Bieber made 21 starts in 2023, missing two months with elbow inflammation. The two-time All-Star went 6-6 with a 3.80 ERA, and he went 2-0 with no runs allowed in his two starts last season.

Bieber experienced a hiccup in his rehab ahead of the Guardians' game vs. the New York Yankees on Thursday, via The Athletic's Zack Meisel.

"Shane Bieber will not start Friday for Akron," he said. "He reported soreness after throwing a bullpen session the other day. He met with team doctors and will consult with Dr. Keith Meister to figure out what’s next."

Bieber has not pitched a full season since 2022.

Shane Bieber will not start Friday for Akron. He reported soreness after throwing a bullpen session the other day. He met with team doctors and will consult with Dr. Keith Meister to figure out what’s next.
— Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) June 5, 2025

Cleveland selected Bieber in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and he got called up in May 2018. The UC Santa Barbara alum went 11-5 with a 4.55 ERA that season, but improved to 15-8 with a 3.28 ERA the following year. He went 8-1 with a 3.28 ERA in 2020, when he won the Triple Crown.

Bieber is 62-32 with a 3.22 ERA over 136 career appearances, including 134 starts. He's also 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA over three playoff starts, and hasn't pitched in the postseason since 2022.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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