The Cleveland Guardians haven’t found much consistency on the mound this season.
They had high hopes for Tanner Bibee, who was expected to be their de facto ace while Shane Bieber was out, and that hasn’t always been the case.
Bibee has looked great at times, but he’s also had some ugly outings.
That’s why he vowed to be better in the second half of the season:
“It’s been super up-and-down. I feel like the whole development process this year has been good and it has been productive,” Bibee said of his first half. “I feel like I’ve said this ever since I’ve been up here: You’re never gonna be a finished product, and I don’t think I’m very close to a finished product at all. I feel like I have a ton more room to keep growing and keep going, and the goal is to come back and be who I’m supposed to be in the second half. Because I wasn’t who I was supposed to be in the first half.”
Bibee had a strong outing in his final start before the All-Star break.
He held it down for 5.2 innings as the Guardians beat the Chicago White Sox 6-2.
He allowed just two runs and gave up six hits and two walks with five strikeouts on 91 throws.
Bibee posted a 3.47 ERA in 31 starts last season.
That number went up to 4.29 in 19 starts so far this year.
He’s given up 17 homers, struck out 95, and has issued 33 walks in 109 innings of work.
Bibee got off to a terrible start to the season, posting an ERA of 5.19 while giving up eight home runs in just 26 innings in his first five starts of the campaign.
He’s been much better through his next 11 starts, posting a 3.41 ERA and allowing just seven home runs.
A lot has gone wrong for the playoff-hopeful Cleveland Guardians this season, especially at the plate.
But with Bieber set to return from his injury at some point in the near future and the final Wild Card spot still up for grabs, having Bibee turn back the clock and play like he did last year will also be crucial to this team’s aspirations.
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