Toronto just announced they’ve tossed starting pitcher Shane Bieber onto the 15-day injured list, and this is a real gut punch for the Blue Jays. The dude’s dealing with “right teres major inflammation,” and the move is retroactive to August 21.
Bieber’s Rough Ride and the Latest Setback
This isn’t just some minor league tweak, we’re talking about inflammation in that thick muscle on his right side, up in the upper back and shoulder. For Bieber, it’s just another brutal chapter in what’s been a crazy year. The guy’s only pitched in 11 games all season! He was already recovering from Tommy John surgery late last year, which knocked him out for a whopping 78 games at the start of this season. Since he finally got off the IL, he’s been trying to find his stride. He’s posted a 5-2 record with a 4.53 ERA, striking out 44 batters in 55.2 innings. He hasn’t been the dominant ace he was with Cleveland, sure, but he settled into that veteran role, called on to pitch reliably. Now this injury hits.
Thin Depth and a Critical Wild Card Hunt
Losing Bieber means Toronto’s starting rotation depth is officially in trouble. He’s not the only one on the shelf either. Trey Yesavage has been out since August 4 with a knee injury, though at least we heard a week ago he’d started throwing on flat ground. That’s a glimmer, but it’s not enough right now. The Blue Jays are currently sitting at a 64-68 record, which puts them in fourth place in the AL East. Here’s the kicker, though: even with that losing record, they’re only two games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League.
There’s just over a month left in the regular season, so yeah, they still have time to make a playoff push. But let’s be real, they’re gonna need their starting pitchers healthy, and fast, if they want to get anywhere. This injury to Bieber, on top of Yesavage being out, is a major headache. Every game matters right now for that wild-card hunt. They’re still in it, but man, they’re really testing fate.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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