Blue Jays’ John Schneider Announces Shane Bieber News Before Athletics Game
The Toronto Blue Jays enter Opening Day with what many consider one of the strongest pitching staffs in Major League Baseball . With a rotation anchored by established arms and reinforced by key offseason addition Dylan Cease , Toronto is once again expected to contend at the top of the American League after its run to the World Series last season. The depth and experience of the staff are among the reasons for those expectations.
A major part of that optimism revolves around Shane Bieber , who returned to the team in the offseason after opting into his contract following a strong finish to 2025. Acquired from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline, Bieber quickly became an important piece of Toronto’s rotation as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery.
In his first season with the Blue Jays, Bieber made seven regular-season starts, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and 37 strikeouts. His impact extended into the postseason, where he went 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA, including a key performance in the World Series, helping Toronto push all the way to Game 7 before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers .
However, Bieber’s availability for the start of the 2026 season has remained a major concern. After returning late last year from Tommy John surgery, the right-hander has been dealing with forearm fatigue during spring training, leading the Blue Jays to take a cautious approach with his buildup. He has been limited to throwing off flat ground rather than progressing to full mound work, as the team prioritizes his long-term health.
On Friday, the Blue Jays provided an update on the veteran pitcher via manager John Schneide. According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Schneider said Bieber is expected to get back on a mound next week, marking an important step forward in his recovery and progression toward game readiness.
The update offers optimism for Toronto as it prepares for its matchup against the Athletics and looks ahead to the early part of the season. While Bieber may not be ready immediately, returning to mound work means his comeback is trending in the right direction.
Having Bieber at full strength throughout the campaign could be the difference-maker for the Blue Jays as they seek to improve on last season’s run.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
