Guardians' Shane Bieber: Earns win with dominant performance
Rotowire
Bieber (6-6) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits over six innings against the Reds. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter.
Bieber allowed only one hit over the first four innings and didn't surrender a run until the sixth, after Cleveland had already jumped out to a four-run lead. The right-hander had given up four runs in each of his last three starts coming in, and it marked his first start with one or fewer runs allowed since June 29. Bieber now carries a 4.09 ERA through two September starts to go along with a 12:1 K:BB.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Shaky in return to rotation
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Bieber came away with a no-decision in Friday's 9-8 win over the Orioles, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.
Two of the runs charged to Bieber in his first big-league start since July 9 scored on a wild pitch in the second inning and his own throwing error in the third. The veteran right-hander had some good moments too though, escaping that third-inning jam with a double-play grounder and a strikeout, and he left the mound after throwing 52 of 81 pitches for strikes. It's been a tough, injury-plagued season for Bieber, whose 3.91 ERA and 12.5 WHIP are his highest marks since he was a rookie in 2018, but he'll likely make one more start before the regular season is through, on the road next weekend in Detroit.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Activated ahead of start
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The Guardians reinstated Bieber (elbow) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Friday against Baltimore, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
Bieber looked good in two minor-league rehab outings, surrendering just one run across 7.1 frames while striking out 11 batters. He'll be limited to roughly 80 pitches as he makes his first big-league start since mid-July and will face an Orioles offense that ranks ninth in the majors in OPS (.750).
Bieber (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list to start Friday's game against the Orioles at Progressive Field, MLB.com reports.
Guardians manager Terry Francona confirmed that Bieber will be cleared to make his first start for Cleveland since the All-Star break after the right-hander threw a bullpen session Tuesday in Kansas City without incident. Francona said Bieber will be limited to around 80 pitches Friday, though that workload could still be enough for the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner to reach the five innings he would need to qualify for a win. Bieber has been on the shelf throughout the second half with right elbow inflammation.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Tracking toward return this week
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Bieber (elbow) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday and, if it goes well, he could return from the 60-day injured list to make a start later this week, MLB.com reports.
The Guardians don't currently have a starter listed for Thursday's home game against the Orioles, so that start could fall to Bieber if he feels good during Tuesday's mound session. In his second and likely final rehab start this past Sunday at Triple-A Columbus, Bieber fanned seven and gave up no hits and three walks over 3.2 scoreless frames. He threw 64 pitches in the outing, so the righty would be relatively limited from a pitch-count perspective in his first start back, especially if he ends up getting the nod Thursday on three days' rest. Bieber has been sidelined since mid-July with right elbow inflammation.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Pitches well in rehab start
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Bieber (elbow) struck out seven and gave up no hits and three walks over 3.2 scoreless frames in a rehab start with Triple-A Columbus on Sunday.
Bieber issued three free passes but was otherwise sharp in the outing and averaged 91 miles per hour with his fastball, just a tick down from his 91.8 mph average for this season. The right-hander upped his pitch count to 64 in the second start of his rehab assignment and looks as though he'll be ready to return from the 60-day injured list later this week. With Tanner Bibee (hip) potentially done for the season, Bieber could take his spot in the rotation during the Guardians' series with the Orioles that begins Thursday.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Goes 3.2 innings in rehab start
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Bieber (elbow) struck out four and was charged with two runs (one earned) over 3.2 frames on no hits and one walk in his first rehab start with Double-A Akron on Tuesday.
Bieber was responsible for three runners reaching base, as he walked one and hit another two batters with pitches. Despite not reaching four innings, Bieber still managed to get his pitch count up to 50 on Tuesday. Bieber -- who has been sidelined since mid-July with right elbow inflammation -- appears to be in line for one more rehab start before returning from the 60-day injured list.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Rehab start set for Tuesday
Rotowire
Bieber (elbow) is scheduled to make his first rehab start Tuesday with Double-A Akron.
Sidelined since the All-Star break with right elbow inflammation, Bieber was cleared to face hitters last week and has now graduated to the final phase of his recovery program. He's expected to toss three innings or around 55 pitches Tuesday, per Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Guardians manager Terry Francona has previously mentioned Sept. 20 as a loose target for Bieber's return from the 60-day injured list, so based on that timeline, the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner could make two starts in the minors prior to being activated. Bieber went 5-6 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 95:33 K:BB in 117 innings with Cleveland this season prior to being shut down with the injury.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Cleared to face hitters
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Bieber (elbow) is scheduled to face live hitters Thursday with High-A Lake County, MLB.com reports.
Bieber has been cleared to advance to the next phase of his rehab program for his right elbow injury after he threw an "up-and-down" bullpen session Monday without incident. If his upcoming live session goes well Thursday, Bieber could then be cleared to begin a rehab assignment. Guardians manager Terry Francona said Monday that he's tentatively targeting Sept. 20 for both Bieber and Triston McKenzie (elbow) to make their returns from the 60-day injured list, per Brian Dullik of The Associated Press.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Throwing all pitches off mound
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Bieber (elbow) threw all of his pitches during his latest bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Bieber's next bullpen session will be an "up and down" to simulate the breaks in between innings. If that goes off without a hitch, he's expected to be cleared to face hitters. Bieber has been sidelined since mid-July with right elbow inflammation, but he and the Guardians are still holding out hope that he could rejoin the rotation before the end of the season.
Bieber (elbow) extended his throwing distance off flat ground to 120 feet as of last Thursday, but he hasn't been cleared for mound work, MLB.com reports.
While Bieber appears to be making progress in his recovery from right elbow inflammation, he's moving slowly through his throwing program since initiating it Aug. 2. The Guardians maintain hope that Bieber will be ready to contribute at some point next month, but based on where he currently stands in his recovery from the elbow issue, he might not be ready to go when he's first eligible to return from the 60-day injured list Sept. 10.
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Guardians' Shane Bieber: Starts throwing again
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Bieber (elbow) was cleared to begin a throwing program Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Bieber has reportedly been pain-free after picking up the ball for the first time since the All-Star break, but he's likely been limited to playing light catch thus far. The right-hander will gradually increase the distance of his long-toss throwing before graduating to bullpen sessions and then facing live hitters. Considering he still has multiple hurdles to clear in his recovery from right elbow inflammation and was placed on the 60-day injured list, Bieber won't be ready to rejoin the Guardians until around the middle of September in a best-case scenario.
