Shane Bieber's Velocity Is Back, But One Rehab Stat Has Toronto Holding Its Breath

Alright, Emerald City! While our Mariners are out here battling, some big news just dropped elsewhere in the AL that's got the league buzzing. Remember Shane Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner? He's back with the Toronto Blue Jays, rejoining the team on Friday after a long stint on the injured list. Their manager, John Schneider, is saying Bieber is "feeling good," and honestly, for a guy who hasn't thrown a single pitch all season, that's huge. But even with that good news, there's a specific number from his rehab that has to make any Blue Jays fan a little nervous about his immediate impact.

The Big Return for a Depleted Rotation

Let's rewind a bit. Bieber, the 31-year-old right-hander, got hit with elbow inflammation way back in March, landing him on the 15-day injured list, and then later transferred to the dreaded 60-day list. So, it's been a minute since he's seen big league action. His return is a massive deal for Toronto, especially since their rotation is apparently "depleted." You know how it is when your pitching staff gets thin, every arm counts, and a former Cy Young winner, even if rusty, is a game-changer on paper. Schneider confirmed that Bieber could be activated from the IL in the next few days, aiming to get him back on the mound to help turn their season around.

The Rehab Reality Check: Good and N

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ot-So-Good Bieber just wrapped up a five-game rehab stint, with his final start coming on Wednesday for Triple-A Buffalo. Here's where it gets interesting, and where Toronto fans have to be doing some quick math. In that Buffalo outing, Bieber allowed five runs and a whopping 11 baserunners over five-plus innings. He threw 80 pitches, which is a good workload for coming back, but those runs and baserunners are a definite red flag. The good news? His velocity hit 93 mph. That's a strong indicator that the arm strength is there after the inflammation. He's set to throw a side session at Wrigley Field on Saturday after linking up with the team in Chicago. If that goes well, activation could be right around the corner. So, what does this all mean? Bieber's back, he's "feeling good," and the velocity is there. But that one rehab start, with so many runners on base, definitely shows he's got some rust to shake off. For Toronto, who are desperate for quality innings, it's a calculated risk bringing him back now. Will the real Shane Bieber show up, or will it take a few starts to find his groove? We'll be watching to see how this impacts the AL race. Meanwhile, back home in the Pacific Northwest, our Mariners just showed the Baltimore Orioles who's boss. Our boys took them down in a tight one, finishing with a solid 3-0 victory! You love to see it, especially with how hard everyone's battling in the league right now. Go M's!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.