Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to an inflammation in his teres major muscle beneath his right shoulder. This setback comes at a crucial time for the team as they are vying for a wild-card spot with only a month left in the season.
Bieber, a seasoned player who clinched the American League Cy Young Award in 2020, holds a 5-2 record this season with a 4.37 earned-run average. He recently returned to the field after spending the initial two months of the season on the injured list because of right elbow inflammation and forearm fatigue.
The decision to place Bieber on the injured list was made retroactively to Friday following his impressive performance against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he pitched seven strong innings in a 5-1 victory. The team’s manager, John Schneider, revealed that Bieber experienced discomfort during a bullpen session in New York on Sunday, prompting further evaluation.
Schneider expressed hope for Bieber’s return this season but refrained from providing a specific timeline. With Toronto currently trailing by two games in the American League wild-card race, losing Bieber’s pitching prowess is a significant blow. Despite the setback, the team remains resilient and is focused on navigating through this challenge in their pursuit of a playoff spot.