Shane Bieber came back to Cleveland on Tuesday wearing a Blue Jays uniform, but the setting still felt familiar.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who spent the bulk of his career with the Guardians from 2018-2024 and remained with the club through the first half of the ’25 campaign, traveled with Toronto to Progressive Field even though he is currently injured. The Blue Jays are in town for a three-game series against the Guardians, and Bieber spoke before Tuesday night’s game about what it was like to return.
“A bit odd for sure walking up the stairs and being on this side of the field,” Bieber said while speaking to reporters before Tuesday night's game. “… It always feels great, it's a great place to come back to. It's odd thinking that it's only been a year and it's odd thinking that it's already been a year.
“I'm happy to be back. It's been awesome to catch up with some friends, and some family essentially, over the last hour or two.”
Bieber’s Cleveland run left a real mark. He was one of the better starters in the game from 2019-2022, winning the 2020 American League Cy Young award and taking All-Star Game MVP honors in 2019. His 2019 All-Star performance, when he struck out the side in his inning of work, helped make him a fan favorite in Cleveland.
“A lot of great memories,” Bieber continued. “The support from 2018-2025 was very special and something that my family and I cherish. So it's something that I've been looking forward to for a long time.”
The Guardians traded Bieber to the Toronto Blue Jays before he returned from injury in 2025. This season, the Blue Jays right-hander has a 4.37 ERA across 11 outings.
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Velazquez was named the International League Player of the Month after a huge August that included 15 homers and a finish near the top of the league in several offensive categories. Even with that surge, Stephen Vogt said the club has held off on a promotion because it cannot promise Velazquez everyday playing time, leaving Cleveland with a familiar dilemma: an obvious bat waiting in the wings, and no easy path to get him into the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
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Now Cleveland is juggling three candidates for the middle infield in Rocchio, Angel Genao and Travis Bazzana, and that gives Stephen Vogt a real decision to make. If Genao and Bazzana keep pushing forward, Rocchio could find himself squeezed into a reserve role rather than getting the steady playing time he once seemed to have claimed, which is a tough spot for a player trying to work his way back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Suddenly Have A Postseason Problem They Never Expected From Bibee
Tanner Bibees latest outing only sharpened the concern around Clevelands rotation at the exact moment the Guardians can least afford it. The right-hander was tagged for five runs over four innings in a 6-3 loss to the Blue Jays, a rough step backward for a team that is still hanging onto the American Leagues final Wild Card spot by a half-game.
Bibee has become the most uncomfortable subplot in a postseason chase that otherwise still has a path forward. He leads the majors with 15 losses, and while Cleveland has leaned on him as a central piece of the staff, the inconsistency has left the Guardians wondering whether they can trust him when the games get tighter and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]