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Blue Jays: Why a healthy Shane Bieber would be a massive boost to the rotation
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Photo credit: © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Graeme Wallace
May 21, 2026, 19:00 EDTUpdated: May 21, 2026, 16:15 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays are in the midst of an injury-riddled and disappointing season. As bad as the injury woes have been and with all of the valuable players on the shelf, it’s hard to think of someone the team would be happier to welcome back into the fold than starting pitcher Shane Bieber.
The veteran has been throwing sessions in preparation for ramping up to game action, starting the season on the IL with a forearm issue. 
Many were surprised that Bieber decided to opt into his player option for the 2026 season, worth $12 million, and potentially leaving some deserved free agent money on the table. After finding himself on the sidelines to begin the campaign, fans can see why Bieber opted to run it back with the Jays for one more season.
His return would give Toronto one of the best starting trios in the majors, along with Dylan Cease and Kevin Gausman. Cease has been dominant in his first season in Toronto, going 3-2 with a 2.98 ERA and an AL-leading 84 strikeouts through his opening 10 starts. Gausman is 3-3 with a 3.45 ERA and a league-low 1.4% walk rate this season.
That duo is also enhanced by Trey Yesavage, who has put up eye-popping numbers in his still-rookie campaign. The 2024 first-round pick is 2-1 with a minuscule 1.07 ERA, and 29 punchouts in 25 1/3 innings (five starts) in 2026.
Adding Bieber to that trio would give Toronto another ace who should be consistently pitching at least six innings. This will save an overtaxed bullpen that has pitched the sixth-most innings (202 1/3) of any relief corps in the league. So far, the relievers have been league-average in ERA (4.05, 16th in MLB) but have converted just 10 of 20 save opportunities with a losing record of 11-14. Having Bieber back in the fold would allow Jays manager John Schneider to use his bullpen arms more strategically and put relievers in positions where they can be more successful instead of having to use multiple relievers to get through bullpen games. 
Welcoming Bieber back to the rotation would also give the Blue Jays one of the most impressive collections of strikeout pitchers in the big leagues.
Cease has more K’s than any other pitcher. Gausman’s strikeout numbers (8.3 SO/9) aren’t as gaudy as they were a few years ago, but he’s still capable of turning back the clock. As we saw in last fall’s postseason run, Yesavage can rack up his share of strikeouts. Bieber has averaged 10.1 K/9 for his career and punched out nine batters in his Jays debut last August. Having a quartet of starters generating whiffs is important, and limits balls in play, with the team’s defence not as reliable as it was last season. 
With the news that José Berríos will be out for the season, following Tommy John surgery, Patrick Corbin or a returning Max Scherzer will likely be asked to fill out the rotation. For these games, the bullpen will probably have to pitch four innings, so getting 6-7 innings from the top four starters will be vital, and, with this group, an achievable goal.
Bieber is expected to return to the team sometime in June, when the margin for error will be slimmer. Having a strong starting four will allow Schneider to use his staff to maximize efficiency and take advantage of matchups.
The right-hander will also join Gausman, Cease, and the rest of the starters to give the Jays one of the most experienced rotations in important games. That group has pitched in countless late-season, impactful games over the years, and they will be leaned on heavily down the stretch.

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