TORONTO — When the Toronto Blue Jays enter hostile territory, Shane Bieber's job is to lead the way.
Bieber will be Toronto's starting pitcher in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Seattle on Wednesday. He had the same role in Game 3 of the AL Division Series when the Blue Jays visited Yankee Stadium.
“I love it. It's cool. It's something to embrace,” Bieber said Monday before the start of Game 2 at Rogers Center. “Ultimately, it's about how many people will get the opportunity to be involved in the playoffs, in the ALCS, in Seattle, which will be a great environment, so I'm really excited about that.”
Bieber played two games for the Cleveland Guardians in early 2024, but was shut down on April 6 of that year after the team announced he needed Tommy John surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. On July 31 of this year, he was traded to Toronto for prospect Hal Stephen.
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On August 22, the Blue Jays activated him from the injured list, striking out nine hits and earning the win as Toronto beat the Miami Marlins 5–2. Since then, the two-time All-Star and 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner has appeared in some of the Blue Jays' biggest games en route to winning the American League East Division title.
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“I think since I got back to the big leagues a couple of months ago, I obviously found that I was put into some meaningful ballgames right away,” Bieber said of preparing for a busy start. “The importance remains the same, and obviously you pay special attention to your preparation and every pitch, and you have the choice to make every bullpen and the work in between more important.
“I think at the end of the day, if your routine is already set in stone, you're ready to go. You still try to treat it the same way.”
Bieber finished the regular season with a 4–2 record, a 3.57 earned run average and 37 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. He had a shortened appearance against the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS on October 7, allowing three runs—two earned—in 2 2/3 innings as the Blue Jays lost 6–9.
“Another veteran who has been in big games and done very well,” Toronto manager John Schneider said. “A guy you rely on, count on, trust, and that's what we thought when we acquired him at the deadline.
“Again, I'm playing in a hostile environment like he did in New York, but I have complete trust in him to go out there and just bring my game.”
Bieber said he took some lessons while hanging out in the Bronx.
“You have to empty the tank from the first step and continue to be aggressive,” he said. “I watched this outing several times and was relatively happy with how I performed.
“I thought a couple different serves and being a little sharper in certain situations could have made the game go in a different direction, but ultimately you can't focus on that. You have to focus on what's next.”
George Kirby will start for the Mariners.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
