Bieber's Pitching Nightmare
Cy Young Winner Shane Bieber Records Career-Worst Outing as Blue Jays Fall
Key Points
Bieber became the fourth pitcher in MLB’s divisional era to walk six batters in the first inning, joining Daniel Cabrera (2006), Ryan Dempster (2001) and Todd Van Poppel (1994).
He did not record a strikeout in the game, marking the first time since May 7, 2022, and he threw 42 pitches with only 15 strikes.
The start was delayed 1 hour and 7 minutes by torrential storms, delaying the game and contributing to the uncharacteristic outing.
Bieber is the first Cy Young winner to endure an outing with six walks and two outs or less, a record that also places him among a small historical group with past similar (but not identical) instances by Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Christy Mathewson.
CJ Abrams beat Bieber to first on an infield single after Bieber lost track of the bag covering first base, a miscued play that compounded the frame.
Shane Bieber had the worst start of his career on Tuesday, walking six batters in just two-thirds of an inning against the Washington Nationals. The Toronto Blue Jays lost 8-6, and Bieber left the mound with his team already down 4-0 after throwing 42 pitches — only 15 of them strikes. NBC Sports reported that Bieber admitted there were no excuses for the outing, saying he simply needed to dry his hands and get the job done.
The ugly outing dropped Bieber to 2-2 on the season with a 5.74 ERA. It came just days after a strong showing against Tampa Bay, making the collapse all the more stunning for a former Cy Young Award winner.
Six Walks, Two Outs, and a Historic Collapse
Bieber walked six of the nine batters he faced in the first inning. Three of those walks came with the bases loaded, forcing in runs automatically. He never recorded a strikeout. MassLive noted that Bieber became just the fourth pitcher in MLB's divisional era to walk six batters in a single first inning, joining Daniel Cabrera (2006), Ryan Dempster (2001), and Todd Van Poppel (1994).
The damage did not stop there. CJ Abrams reached base on an infield single after Bieber lost track of who was covering first base — a mental mistake that piled on to an already disastrous frame. It was also Bieber's first start with zero strikeouts since May 7, 2022, according to NBC Sports.
Grip Problems and a Rain Delay Set the Stage
A thunderstorm delayed the game by 1 hour and 7 minutes before the first pitch. When play finally started, warm and humid conditions made it hard for Bieber to grip the ball. El Dorado News reported that Bieber pointed to sweaty hands as a key factor in his command breaking down so badly.
Still, Bieber did not hide behind the weather. He said the issue was fixable — he needed to wipe his hands and throw strikes. For a pitcher known for his control, walking six while recording just two outs was deeply out of character.
A Rare Footnote in Baseball History
The performance put Bieber in rare — and unwanted — company. AL.com reported that across all of MLB history, only 11 pitchers have ever walked six batters while recording two outs or fewer in a start. Bieber is the first Cy Young Award winner to appear on that list. Past instances include Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Christy Mathewson.
The Cy Young Award goes to the best pitcher in each league each season. Bieber won it in 2020 with the Cleveland Guardians, then known as the Indians. Tuesday's start was the shortest of his entire career, making the night a genuine low point for the 29-year-old right-hander.
Trade Deadline Clouds Gather Over Bieber's Future
Bieber's name had already been floated in trade rumors ahead of the MLB deadline. Head Topics noted that Tuesday's outing raised serious questions about his reliability and likely hurt his market value. Teams looking for a proven starter will now have to weigh a 5.74 ERA and a nightmare performance against his past track record.
The Blue Jays are in a tough spot. Bieber can still be a strong starter — his Tampa Bay outing proved that. But two bad stretches this season, capped by a historically poor walk night, make it harder for Toronto to get top value in any potential deal. The next few starts will be crucial for his trade stock.
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