Blue Jays targeting Shane Bieber's return to help boost rotation

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher and former AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber appears to be nearing his return to the rotation. He is currently on the 60-day IL recovering from elbow inflammation and forearm fatigue that derived from a prior Tommy John surgery in 2024. 

The Blue Jays currently rank 11th in MLB with a 3.89 team ERA, and while it's respectable, having Bieber back in the rotation will help take pressure off other starters and the bullpen. 

A Bieber return will offer upside potential to help salvage a taxed bullpen and injury plagued rotation with Max Scherzer and Dylan Cease making near returns from the IL. 

The Blue Jays have had to lean on starters Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage and Patrick Corbin to anchor the rotation. A Bieber return also offers a veteran presence that will stabilize the rotation. 

Shane Bieber's recovery progress 

During the regular season last year, Bieber posted a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA, 37 strikeouts and 1.02 WHIP across seven starts in addition to only issuing seven walks and holding hitters to a .228 batting average.

He also posted a 3.86 across five starts in the postseason last year. Overall, he proved to be an efficient arm in the rotation. 

Bieber is making strides in his recovery and pitched in a rehab start for Dunedin on Sunday afternoon, facing the Clearwater Threshers. 

He showed some encouraging signs despite giving up five runs across 2.1 innings. Two of those earned runs were not stranded by the reliever who came in after him. He threw 49 pitches with a 55% zone rate and generated a 31% whiff rate. He will look to build up his pitch count as he pitches in more rehab games.  

Bieber also didn't walk any batters.

In his first rehab start on May 25 with the Florida Complex League (FCL), Bieber threw two scoreless innings, allowing three hits and notching three strikeouts.