Tanner Bibee turns in quality start to beat Twins

Cleveland was shutout in a Bibee start for the fourth time this year. Both he and Joey Cantillo have made 26 starts for the Guardians this season. Bibee has allowed 71 runs in 150 1/3 innings (4.25 RA/9). Cantillo has allowed 62 runs in 125 2/3 innings (4.44 RA/9). Bibee, though, is 4-13, whereas Cantillo has gone 9-7. Bibee will next face the Rockies in Coors, which might lead to some run support.

Bibee gave up a run in the second and three in the fifth. In spite of that, he pitched into the seventh, unfortunately. He walked back-to-back batters with one out in that frame — his only two walks of the game — and both came around to score after he departed. Tonight sums up Bibee’s season pretty well. He was perfect in the first, third, fourth and sixth innings, but he dropped to 4-12 after every single batter to reach against him either scored or knocked in a run. He’ll face the Padres next.

Bibee did everything right here, besides keeping the ball in the yard. It was the first time he’d reached 10 strikeouts in a single start since September of last season and his changeup was lethal, forcing seven swings-and-misses. On the flip side, the Mets smashed three home runs off him and all came from left-handed batters. All in all, it was still a solid start and Bibee left it with a 3.85 ERA, 110 strikeouts, and 38 walks across 138 innings. He’s lined up for a two-start week against the Tigers and Padres next week.

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that Slade Cecconi will move to the bullpen with Tanner Bibee starting in his place on Wednesday. Griffin came over from the Nationals in a five-player swap at the trade deadline earlier this week. The 31-year-old southpaw has posted a strong 3.06 ERA and 116/30 K/BB ratio across 129 innings in his return to the majors after three seasons pitching overseas in Japan.

Bibee did what he could to hold the Diamondbacks in check all night. He scattered three hits and one walk over 7 1/3 innings, but did hit back-to-back batters in the fourth inning. Those two hit batsmen proved irrelevant, as he was able to force Max Kepler to line out to end the inning, but he ran into some trouble in the eighth. Bibee was pulled after allowing two of the first three batters he faced to reach base, and the Guardians’ bullpen wasted little time in making him pay. Reliever Erik Sabrowski immediately walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, and went on to allow back-to-back singles to Geraldo Perdomo and Gabriel Moreno to give the Diamondbacks a 3-1 lead. It was a tough way for Bibee to pick up his 11th loss of the season. He ends the month of July with a 2-2 record and a 4.76 ERA. His next start is scheduled for Thursday at home against the Mets.

Bibee stranded six baserunners through four scoreless innings before the Rays broke through in the fifth. Three hits and a sacrifice fly would put two runs on the board for Tampa Bay. The Rays would plate one more run in the sixth before Bibee’s day was done. He finished with a quality start, striking out five in the loss. The 27-year-old right-hander will take a 3.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and a 97/37 K/BB ratio across 125 innings into a start against the Diamondbacks in Cleveland on Friday.

Parker Messick will get some extra rest after throwing a scoreless second inning in the All-Star Game. He’ll presumably face the Twins or Monday or Tuesday, with Slade Cecconi starting the other game.

Bibee was solid on Saturday, holding the Marlins scoreless through six innings. He returned for the seventh and gave up a double with two outs. That would do it for him at 94 pitches with three strikeouts. He scattered five hits and four walks. The inherited runner would come in to score. The 27-year-old right-hander ends the first half with a 3.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and an 87/34 K/BB ratio across 113 innings.

Bibee surrendered a two-run homer to Joc Pederson in the third. The other run came in the seventh after Cooper Ingle made a routine catch in left and threw the ball into the stands, not realizing that it was only the second out of the inning and giving the Rangers a run because Ezequiel Duran was on second base. It went as Bibee’s ninth loss, tying him with Michael Lorenzen for most in the majors, even though it’s the 15th time in his 18 starts that he allowed three runs or fewer. He’ll face the White Sox next.

Wins have not been easy to come by for Bibee, who remained 2-8 despite leaving with a two-run lead today. It wound up being blown by Cade Smith in the ninth. Bibee lowered his ERA to 3.78. He’s allowed five earned runs and just 12 hits over 26 1/3 innings in his four starts this month. He’ll pitch at home against the Rangers and White Sox next week.