Bibee exits Opening Day start with right shoulder inflammation

SEATTLE -- Tanner Bibee's second opportunity at his first career Opening Day start came to an abrupt end on Thursday at T-Mobile Park, when the Guardians right-hander exited just before beginning the bottom of the sixth inning with right shoulder inflammation.

Bibee appeared in discomfort after throwing his final warmup pitch in the sixth. Manager Stephen Vogt, pitching coach Carl Willis and trainer Jeff Desjardins convened with Bibee on the mound, before the 27-year-old walked off with Desjardins.

Bibee said after the Guardians’ 6-4 win over the Mariners he was feeling “pretty good,” but was also understandably frustrated at the tough end to his night.

“It was kind of off and on the entire time,” Bibee said of the shoulder issue. “It kind of got to a point where I feel like I couldn't really battle through it and give my best stuff. It got to a point where I didn't want to hurt myself or the team in turn.”

Bibee said the issue was new and not something he dealt with during Spring Training. He underwent some strength testing after he exited the game, and was encouraged by the results. He and the Guardians will wait to see how he feels on Friday.

“He was examined. He's strong. He's feeling good,” Vogt said. “So we just have to see how he feels the next couple days coming out of it. But definitely the right call for him to let us know he was feeling it. But as of right now, he's very strong on his exam.”

It’s too early to know if Bibee will miss any time. But it’s worth remembering the Guardians have a bit of rotation depth to work with after they optioned Logan Allen to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday. The lefty was one of six starters in the mix for a rotation job this spring.

Bibee allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings. Thursday marked his first career Opening Day start; he was set to take the ball in the Guardians’ season opener last year, but was scratched four hours before first pitch against the Royals due to food poisoning.

That moment kick-started an up-and-down year for Bibee, who finished with career highs in ERA (4.24), home runs (27) and FIP (4.34). Each of the Mariners’ runs off him on Thursday came via a solo home run: Brendan Donovan (first), Dominic Canzone (second) and Luke Raley (fifth).

“I feel like that’s the best I've thrown the ball in a really long time,” Bibee said. “Obviously, they got some mistakes. The first couple innings, I just kind of fell behind, and then they kind of just ambushed me on some pitches. But other than those three pitches, I felt like I threw the ball really, really well. I think it's really encouraging.”

Reliever Connor Brogdon, who was already warming up in the Guardians’ bullpen, took over in the sixth. Brogdon, Shawn Armstrong, Erik Sabrowski and Cade Smith went on to allow one run on two hits over four innings and struck out seven batters to close the door.

Sabrowski struck out three Mariners over 1 1/3 innings: Donovan, Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez.

“The job's the same, whether it's on the backfield or in Spring Training or on Opening Day,” Sabrowski said. “You try to get guys out. And I think you can give hitters too much credit when you really key in on their name and accolades and things like that.

“In the end, it's just another hitter. I'm trying to throw strikes and get him out any way that's possible.”