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    Bieber rolls out second-straight quality start

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    TOR Starting Pitcher #57
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    Shane Bieber limited hard contact as he allowed just one earned run over seven innings in a win over the Rays.

    Bieber allowed only five hard-hit balls, which is good because he carried just a 21 percent whiff rate over 86 pitches. It’s still a concerningly-low strikeout rate as he managed only three today and has just 22 in 30 2/3 innings so far. Bieber has reeled off three consecutive starts with two or fewer earned runs allowed to lower his ERA from 9.00 to 4.70, but he still feels like a tenuous option at this point. He’s lined up against a good Nationals lineup for his next start.
Trade deadline moves set to shake up AL East race
The AL East was one of baseball's busiest divisions leading up to Monday's trade deadline, leaving CC Sabathia to assess how the Rays and Yankees stack up following their respective moves.

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  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
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    Bieber gave up a 419-foot fly to Taylor Trammell in the fourth that would have been a homer in 25 ballparks and a 403-footer to Christian Walker in the fifth that would have left the yard in 11, but both were flyouts tonight. Bouncing back nicely from last week’s bizarre start against the Nationals in which he walked six and was pulled in the first, Bieber had two walks and six strikeouts tonight. Still, given that he’s been rather homer-prone, he’s not a great play this weekend in Philadelphia.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #34
    This makes plenty of sense. The Phillies need another starter for the rotation and potentially another outfield bat as well. The Blue Jays could send any combination of Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, George Springer, and Daulton Varsho. The Phillies may also be interested in Jeff Hoffman for the bullpen. Would the Blue Jays want to take a chance that they can “fix” Andrew Painter? There is still time to go here and nothing imminent, but it seems like a pairing that makes sense.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    Truly bizarre. Bieber had never walked six in a game before, much less in an inning. Three of the walks came with the bases loaded to force in runs. Bieber said after the game that he was having a tough time gripping the ball after an hourlong rain delay to start the game, and he probably deserves the benefit of the doubt for now. He’s due to make his next start Monday against the Astros.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    Bieber’s velocity today wasn’t quite as good as in his final start before the break, but at 92.3 mph on average with his fastball, he was still better than in his first three outings back. He was able to generate 13 whiffs and finish with a 33 percent CSW while throwing only 80 pitches to get his 18 outs. If the velocity heads south again, Bieber probably won’t be helpful in mixed leagues. Right now, though, he’s looking good. He’ll get the Rays at home on Thursday.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    Bieber got off to a rough start in this one. After walking the second batter he faced on the night, the righty then gave up a two-run homer to Xander Bogaerts to immediately put his team down 2-0. He would settle in after that, scattering just four hits and one walk over his next 3 2/3 innings of work before being pulled with two outs in the fifth inning to give the Blue Jays the left-on-left matchup with Gavin Sheets coming to the plate. Despite the rough start, it was a relatively solid outing for Bieber, who needed a bounce-back after allowing seven earned runs in his previous start. Bieber is still rounding into form after missing nearly three months due to injury. He’s allowed two earned runs in two of his four starts this season and should be poised for a strong second half of the season.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    In 33 career plate appearances with the bases loaded, Bieber hadn’t allowed a grand slam until the second inning today, when Randy Arozarena hit one. He also gave up a two-run homer in the fifth to end his day after 89 pitches. Bieber’s fastball averaged 91.9 mph today, which was basically a match for his first two outings, and he’s already given up six homers in 13 innings. His ability to hit the corners will probably improve as he continues to start regularly, but unfortunately, he just doesn’t seem like a mixed-league guy right now. He’ll likely make his next start Friday in San Diego.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    Bieber surrendered a leadoff homer to Joc Pederson in the first inning. He settled in nicely, holding the Rangers to just the one run into the sixth. He walked a batter and gave up a hit with one out before departing at 92 pitches with four strikeouts. He scattered five hits in all and issued four walks. The 31-year-old right-hander will look to carry some momentum after the encouraging start into a matchup against the Mariners in Seattle on Saturday.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    He gave up consecutive homers to Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith and Taylor Trammell in the fourth. Bieber, back from elbow inflammation, averaged 91.7 mph with his fastball, which is also right where he was in his Triple-A starts. That’s down about one mph from his seven starts post-Tommy John last year but still slightly better than his 91.3 mph average from 2022 and ’23. Ideally, he’ll get a little stronger as time goes on, but it’s not something to count on. Really, though, with his ability to locate, he can be effective where he is now. He just wasn’t sharp enough today. He has a couple of rather favorable starts coming up at home against the Rangers and in Seattle. If he’s not considerably better in those, then his status as a mixed-league SP should be reevaluated.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #57
    Bieber was supposed to come off the IL to start Sunday against the Cubs, but that outing was postponed due to rain. The 31-year-old will instead make his season debut Tuesday against the Astros after missing the first two-plus months while recovering from his elbow ailment. Bieber is not the same dominant option he was for the Guardians a few years ago, but he’s a solid fantasy option who deserves roster consideration now that he’s healthy enough to bolster the Toronto rotation.
  • CHC Starting Pitcher #18
    It’ll be made up on August 6. There’s actually a ton to unpack here from a fantasy fallout standpoint. Toronto’s scheduled starter, Dylan Cease, will presumably take the ball for Monday’s series opener against the Astros. That would delay Shane Bieber’s return from the injured list for his season debut until Tuesday’s showdown in the Rogers Centre. Cease would close out a two-start week with a showdown against the Rangers at home. Meanwhile, Shota Imanaga gets the ball on Monday against the free-falling Mets as a part of a two-start week that wraps up with a road tilt against the Brewers.

Rotoworld

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    MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy reported that the Brewers’ trade proposal for Tarik Skubal included infielder Luis Peña.

    McCalvy reports that the Brewers’ initial proposal “was also three prospects, according to sources. All three were hitters, and at least two were Top 100 prospects.” While McCalvy is unsure exactly which three names were in the final proposal, he reports that “one of them was shortstop Luis Peña,” who is the18th-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100. This season, Peña is hitting .308/.396/.447 in 45 games between Single-A and High-A with two home runs, 19 RBI, and 22 steals. The Brewers must have been comfortable enough with the recent performance of Cooper Pratt to deal Peña, but the Tigers went in another direction. Perhaps they preferred Zyhir Hope’s upside or wanted a pitching prospect like River Ryan. Those are the answers we’re unlikely to ever get.
  • TB Designated Hitter #2
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    Yandy Díaz is not in the lineup on Wednesday against the Rockies.

    Seems like a routine day off for Díaz. Liam Hicks will play first base and Jonathan Aranda will DH. Victor Mesa Jr. will shift into the leadoff spot.
  • BAL Relief Pitcher #66
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    Orioles optioned RHP Anthony Nunez to Triple-A Norfolk.

    The Orioles needed a roster spot for newly acquired reliever Alex Hoppe, so Nunez was sent down. The 25-year-old has a 4.60 ERA in 45 innings for the Orioles this season.
  • CWS Left Fielder #21
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    White Sox reinstated Austin Hays (calf) from the 60-day injured list and designated him for assignment.

    Hays has been on the injured list since May 2nd with a calf strain, and the White Sox have since added Randal Grichuk and Brenton Doyle to be right-handed outfielders. Hays will try to latch on elsewhere if his calf is 100 percent.
  • CHC Relief Pitcher #70
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    Cubs optioned LHP Antoine Kelly to Triple-A Iowa

    The Cubs needed a spot on the active roster, so Kelly will be sent down. He threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings in his MLB debut.
  • TOR Relief Pitcher #52
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    Blue Jays recalled RHP Chase Lee from Triple-A Buffalo

    The 27-year-old has a 2.20 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 40/18 K/BB ratio in 45 innings at Triple-A so far this season. His 3 1/3 MLB innings have been far less successful.
  • TOR Relief Pitcher #60
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    Blue Jays recalled RHP Lazaro Estrada from Triple-A Buffalo

    Estrada has a 4.82 ERA in 9 1/3 innings so far this season for the Blue Jays. He was just demoted to Triple-A on Tuesday but is eligible to come right back since Trey Yesavage (knee) was put on the injured list.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #73
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    Blue Jays optioned RHP Chad Dallas to Triple-A Buffalo

    Dallas was needed for three innings out of the bullpen on Tuesday, allowing six runs on seven hits. He’ll now head back to the minors so the team can get a fresh arm up in the bullpen.
  • TOR Starting Pitcher #39
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    Blue Jays placed RHP Trey Yesavage on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation.

    The latest report was that the Blue Jays were still waiting on MRI results, but it’s clear that they felt Yesavage would not be a good bet to make his next start or the one after. The Blue Jays didn’t fully sell at the deadline, but their playoff hopes remain slim, so they may not be inclined to rush Yesavage and have him pitch at less than 100 percent. We’ll wait for the MRI results before we know more about how long he will be sidelined.
  • WSH Right Fielder #21
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    Nationals have requested unconditional release waivers on Joey Wiemer.

    We are a long way from March, when Wiemer went 10-for-22 with two home runs, seven runs scored, and four RBI in the first five games of the season. The 27-year-old is hitting .196/.277/.257 in 166 plate appearances at Triple-A. He’ll try to sign a minor league contract somewhere else.