The Cleveland Guardians are currently streaking, winning 11 of their last 13 games and surging in the standings.
They still have a long way to go and aren’t even in possession of a postseason spot yet, but they are definitely trending in the right direction.
Guardians fans should also know that they could have their ace back very, very soon.
Shane Bieber allowed one run in three innings in his most recent rehab start on Tuesday, pitching for the Lake County Captains of High-A.
He threw 43 pitches and keeps stretching out with an MLB return in mind.
Guardians insider Tim Stebbins announced the next steps for Bieber in his recovery from his 2024 Tommy John surgery.
“Shane Bieber is set to throw around 55 pitches in his next rehab start, which is set for Sunday. TBA on which affiliate, but Triple-A Columbus and High-A Lake County are home,” he wrote on X.
Shane Bieber is set to throw around 55 pitches in his next rehab start, which is set for Sunday.
TBA on with which affiliate, but Triple-A Columbus and High-A Lake County are home.
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) July 24, 2025
If the Guardians want to test him out against tougher competition while he stretches out, they might send him to Columbus to pitch in Triple-A.
If they take a more conservative approach, they could always send him back to Lake County.
There is an important thing to keep in mind, too: Bieber has been the subject of trade rumors.
The deadline is on July 31, which means the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner will have one last tune-up before other teams decide whether to make a concerted effort to acquire him from the Guardians.
In any case, he should be back in MLB in a week or two and could provide meaningful production from the mound for the Guardians or another contender.
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