Bieber's final start before Deadline 'definitely my worst' with Blue Jays

WASHINGTON -- Blue Jays right-hander Shane Bieber looked to be finding his rhythm in time to solidify his status as a key asset held by one of the likely sellers at Monday’s Trade Deadline.

Then came Tuesday night’s nightmarish outing in Toronto’s 8-6 loss to Washington at Nationals Park.

Struggling with his grip in a game delayed at the start by 1 hour and 7 minutes due to torrential storms, Bieber walked six batters and retired only two before exiting after only two-thirds of an inning in what could be his final appearance for the club.

The 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star threw only 15 of 42 pitches for strikes, while allowing the first four runs to set the Nationals on track to even the series.

“The only thing he really said was it was really hot, he was sweating a lot. Having a tough time gripping the ball,” manager John Schneider said. “The last thing I thought was that, six walks in the first inning from a guy like him.”

By the time Schneider gave Bieber the early hook, he held an infamous new franchise record for most walks issued in an inning. Per Elias Sports Bureau, Bieber was one free pass away from entering truly abnormal territory as the fourth since 1889 to walk seven or more in a single frame. The last time that happened, Senators left-hander Dolly Gray issued eight walks in one inning against the White Sox on Aug. 28, 1909.

“You gotta find a way to get through it, right?” Bieber said. “And I wasn't able to do that tonight, so, ultimately, follow up what was maybe my best start as a Blue Jay with what was definitely my worst. Nobody was more frustrated than me. I let the guys down tonight and so I wear that one wholeheartedly.”

Bieber, who spent most of the first half of the season on the injured list, said the issue wasn’t stuff or anything going on health-wise.

“I got no excuses, man,” he said. “I gotta find a way to get out of that first inning and dry my hands off, and change [my] shirt and eat up innings after that.”

Bieber hurt his own cause when he lost track of the bag covering first base as CJ Abrams hustled out an infield single as one of three batters he faced who did not reach via free pass.

That would’ve led to the second out before Bieber’s last four walks. Instead, his ERA spiked more than a run to 5.74.

Kazuma Okamoto hit his 24th home run in the fifth after entering for the injured Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the fourth, and George Springer clubbed his 12th, a three-run shot that pulled the Blue Jays within two in the eighth.

But Toronto (49-59) dipped to a season-low-tying 10 games below .500 for a fourth time in the last seven days, sending the probability they’ll be shopping Bieber and others at the 6 p.m. ET Trade Deadline just a little bit higher.

A victory could’ve secured Toronto’s first series win since taking two of three at the Giants on July 6-8, and perhaps prolonged hope of climbing back into playoff contention.

“I would hate to discredit how big of an outing that could have been, [how] big of a game that could have been for us,” Bieber said. “I don't want to say that was just one of those days and I’m past it. I'm definitely frustrated. All I can do is be accountable and move forward, and work toward my next one.”

Bieber was still making a prolonged recovery from 2024 Tommy John surgery when the Blue Jays acquired him in a 2025 Deadline deal.

And after Bieber took a tough Game 7 loss to the Dodgers in the 2025 World Series, allowing Will Smith’s 11th-inning solo homer, Bieber surprised most onlookers by picking up his ‘26 player option for $16 million only days after the painful defeat.

By late March, Bieber was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation, and when he was finally cleared to pitch again, he made five rehab starts to come close to simulating a Spring Training buildup.

That did not lead to immediate success upon his Major League return, but Bieber showed signs of his earlier Guardians days in his previous two outings, allowing only six hits and two walks across those successive quality starts.