Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber struggled through one of the worst outings of his career on Tuesday against the Washington Nationals, walking six batters in the first inning before being pulled with the bases loaded and two outs. According to MLB records, Bieber became just the 11th pitcher in major league history to walk at least six batters while recording two outs or fewer.
Bieber’s Historic Control Issues Against Washington
Bieber threw 42 pitches in the opening frame, but only 15 found the strike zone. According to game data, he walked six of the nine batters he faced, surrendered four runs, and allowed one hit before manager decisions brought in reliever Brendon Little to record the final out of the first inning.
The game itself began 65 minutes late due to a fierce storm in Washington. In his previous 149 major league pitching appearances, Bieber’s career high for walks in any outing had been just five.
Rare Company in MLB History
According to Stathead and Baseball Reference data, Bieber is the first pitcher to walk at least six batters while recording two outs or less since Florida’s Ryan Dempster did so on Oct. 5, 2001, against the Atlanta Braves.
Did you know? Bieber is the first Cy Young winner to endure such a tumultuous outing, though Baseball Hall of Famers Bob Feller and Christy Mathewson also recorded similar historical stat lines during their careers, according to historical archives. Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020.
Bieber is also only the second player this season to throw 42 pitches with so few strikes. Kansas City’s Eric Cerantola threw 14 strikes during a 42-pitch relief appearance against Tampa Bay on June 30.
Trade Deadline Implications and Injury Context
Playing on an expiring contract, Bieber remains a candidate to be dealt before the looming deadline next week. Bieber is not scheduled to take the mound again until deadline day, when the Blue Jays travel to face the Houston Astros.
The right-hander did not make his season debut until June 23 due to a lingering elbow injury. Despite a rough start to his return, Bieber had shown signs of a rebound in his previous two outings, yielding just one run across 13 combined innings.
The Blue Jays originally acquired Bieber from the Cleveland Guardians at last season’s trade deadline. That trade paid immediate dividends, as the veteran right-hander helped anchor the rotation during Toronto’s dramatic run to Game 7 of the World Series.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Major League Baseball trade deadline?
The trade deadline falls on next Monday, with teams finalizing rosters for the stretch run.
How many pitches did Shane Bieber throw against the Nationals?
Bieber threw 42 pitches in the first inning, registering only 15 strikes and walking six batters.
When did Shane Bieber win his Cy Young Award?
Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020.
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