Tanner Bibee’s season has not always been smooth, but his recent stretch tells a different story than the win loss record suggests. He took the loss in Friday’s series opener against Houston, allowing four runs in a little over five innings, yet the consistent performance fit a pattern Bibee has built over the past several weeks. When asked about his recent improvement, he credited some tweaks to his pitches and communication with his catcher.
“No, not really. I mean, I feel like I’ve had two horrific starts, and I feel like the rest of the time I’ve been pretty solid, honestly. But I think some stuff’s been clicking a little bit, with like we talked about with the fastballs and stuff, and constantly figuring out the spin and stuff like that. So, I mean, it’s been… I think me and Pat have gotten to a little groove. I mean, I feel like I don’t know what number start this is with him, but we’re figuring out each other a little bit, and we kind of have gotten. I figured out his tendencies on what he wants, and he’s good at communicating that, and I hope I’m good at communicating it to him too. So, yeah.”
Tanner Bibee was asked by reporters in Houston if he feels he’s made any big changes that have worked for him the last 3 starts vs. the previous winless 13 (via #Guardians audio):
“No, not really. I mean, I feel like I've had two horrific starts, and I feel like the rest of the…
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) June 20, 2026
The chemistry with catcher Patrick Bailey stands out as a meaningful note. Building familiarity between a pitcher and catcher typically takes time, and Bibee’s description of learning Bailey’s tendencies while working to communicate his own preferences points to a partnership still in its early stages but already paying dividends. Pitch calling and sequencing often improve gradually as a tandem spends more time together.
Friday’s results were a mixed bag relative to that growth. Bibee struck out seven Astros hitters and worked into the sixth inning before his exit.
Cleveland’s rotation has leaned heavily on consistency from arms like Bibee as the season has progressed, particularly with the bullpen absorbing extra work during the recent injury-related shuffling.
Bibee will look to carry that growing chemistry into his next turn through the rotation, with Cleveland hoping the two rough outings he referenced stay in the past as the calendar moves deeper into summer.
NEXT: Guardians Drop Series Opener In Houston
