Cleveland sees benefit in Bieber pitching again in 2021
Cleveland will soon be officially eliminated from playoff contention, but the larger focus for the past few weeks has been more so on 2022.
So if Shane Bieber does return to the mound in a major league game, it won't be with much urgency, but the club does see some benefit in getting the reigning Cy Young Award winner back into a game.
Bieber has been sidelined since midjune with a shoulder strain, the first major injury in his professional career. While it was possible he could simply be shut down the regular season, Bieber has worked his way back and on Sunday appeared in his second rehab start, throwing 57 pitches over 3 1/3 innings for Double-a Akron..
Pitchers, in a more competitive setting, can gain more feedback about where they stand, something that is difficult to replicate in a rehab assignment in the minors.
"Yeah, I think it's really important for them," said pitching coach Carl Willis, referencing both Bieber and Aaron Civale. " ... I think in Biebs' case particularly, it's the first time he suffered an injury.
It's the first time he had to miss time and I think all the hard work he has put in, for him to be getting close to the point of coming back and potentially pitching in a major league game is certainly going to ease his mind going into the offseason.”
Whether Bieber's next time on the mound is with a minor league club or with Cleveland has yet to be determined. Acting manager Demarlo Hale noted that the team could use Bieber in an abbreviated outing with a shorter pitch count. He'd likely be around 70 pitches his next time out, which would be in line for Friday, leaving it possible Bieber could appear in two games.