After the series finale against the Chicago Cubs was postponed due to weather, the Blue Jays announced a slight shuffle to their rotation. Dylan Cease will now start the opening game of the series against the Houston Astros.

Cease is coming off a five-inning shutout performance against the Boston Red Sox. He struck out seven batters but also walked four, marking the third time this season he has issued four walks in a start. Despite the control issues, Cease owns a 2.71 ERA across 73 innings this season and ranks third among MLB starting pitchers in strikeouts.

Shane Bieber will start Tuesday afternoon’s game against Peter Lambert, while Trey Yesavage is scheduled to pitch in Wednesday night’s series finale against Mike Burrows. Bieber is set to make his season debut on Tuesday after completing several rehab starts between Single-A and Triple-A. His final rehab outing with the Buffalo Bisons last Wednesday against the Charlotte Knights was a bit rocky, as he allowed five runs over five innings.

However, there is little reason for concern. Bieber appears to be the same pitcher he was in 2025, with his fastball still averaging around 92 mph. He also looked comfortable throwing 80 pitches, his highest pitch count since the 2025 postseason.

Moving Bieber back one day could prove beneficial in the long run. The Blue Jays were originally scheduled to play 16 consecutive games without an off day, making for a demanding stretch. The unexpected day off in Chicago gives Bieber additional rest and time to get reacclimated before facing a Houston Astros team that has gone 10-8 so far in June.

The upcoming series against the Astros, Rangers, and Mets will be important tests for the Blue Jays, who are looking to move above .500 for the first time since Opening Weekend.

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