MIAMI (AP) — Shane Bieber struck out nine over six dominant innings of one-run ball in his debut with the Blue Jays on Friday night, helping Toronto beat the Miami Marlins 5-2 after 16 months away from the mound.
“Today, it was all gratitude for what’s been a long road for my family and my support team that keep me going every day,” Bieber said. “Just awesome to share this moment with them.”
It was Bieber’s first major league appearance since April 2, 2024, when he experienced elbow discomfort and subsequently underwent Tommy John surgery.
The right-hander allowed two hits and hit a batter in his 87-pitch outing. He retired 12 straight after allowing Javier Sanoja’s solo homer in the second inning.
“For me, I think since pitch one it was back to doing what I love to do,” Bieber said. “Just fell right into rhythm and was happy how all that went. Kind of happy to hit the ground running and continue to put one foot in front of the other.”
Bieber threw 55 pitches for strikes. His pitch breakdown relied heavily on a mixture of 26 four-seam fastballs and 25 sliders that helped induce 15 swings and misses.
“Falling in a rhythm is a big part of pitching,” Bieber said. “I was able to do that very early on with my fastball and then second time through the order the spin picked up. Overall, very happy with how tonight went.”
Bieber benefited from early run support on Daulton Varsho’s RBI double and Ty France’s two-run single in the first.
“Getting those three runs was nice to focus on throwing strikes, getting ahead and eating up innings to try go deep in the ball game,” Bieber said.
Before the game, Toronto manager John Schneider indicated that Bieber was scheduled to throw approximately 100 pitches for his return but was content with the final total.
“I think that’s a good outing for him to build off,” Schneider said. “I’m happy for Shane. It’s a long road to get back here.”
The Blue Jays acquired the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner from the Cleveland Guardians on July 31. Bieber had done four rehab outings with the Guardians before the trade and three since joining the Blue Jays.
“I’m done with my rehab and I’m here to compete and to win,” Bieber said.
The 30-year-old Bieber spent his first seven seasons with Cleveland. In the 60-game 2020 season, he finished 8-1 with a league low 1.63 ERA and led the AL in strikeouts with 122.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Shane Bieber aims a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists, Jonathan Toews scored for the fourth consecutive game and the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-2 on Thursday night.
Toews also had an assist, Gabriel Vilardi and Josh Morrissey each had a goal and an assist, and Tanner Pearson and Logan Stanley scored as Winnipeg tied its season high for goals.
Connor Hellebuyck made 32 saves as the Jets won their fourth straight following an 11-game losing streak (0-7-4). Winnipeg is 9-1-1 in its past 11 games against the Wild, including six straight wins in Minnesota.
Danila Yurov and Marcus Johansson scored for the Wild, who are 1-3-2 in their last six games. Jesper Wallstedt made 14 saves in two periods; Filip Gustavsson had eight in the third.
Minnesota had the game’s first 10 shots on goal, but Winnipeg scored first when, with a two-man advantage, Toews poked in a rebound of Vilardi's shot.
It was the 900th career point for Toews, who last had goals in four straight games in March 2014. He had three goals in his first 42 games this season.
Pearson put home his own rebound with 11 seconds left in the opening period. A one-timer from Morrissey made it 3-0 eight seconds later.
It was the fastest two goals scored since the franchise relocated to Winnipeg. Ron Hainsey and Chris Thorburn scored seven seconds apart for the Atlanta Thrashers on Dec. 2, 2008.
Yurov got the Wild within 3-1 early in the second period, but Stanley scored on a slap shot, Vilardi on a rebound and Scheifele went bar down later in the frame for his 13th career four-point game.
Morrissey’s assist on Vilardi’s goal gave him 90 career multipoint games, passing Dustin Byfuglien for the most by a defenseman in Jets history.
Jets: Host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.
Wild: Begin a three-game trip Saturday at Buffalo.
AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL
Winnipeg Jets left wing Cole Koepke (45) tries to slap the puck away from Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt (30) stops a shot as defenseman Jared Spurgeon, left and defenseman Daemon Hunt, second from right, tries to clear Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) and center Gabriel Vilardi (13) from the goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Winnipeg Jets left wing Tanner Pearson (70) hits the puck over Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt to score a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Logan Stanley, second from right, celebrates with right wing Nino Niederreiter (62), center Vladislav Namestnikov (7) and center Cole Perfetti (91) after scoring against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
Winnipeg Jets center Jonathan Toews (19) scores a goal as he's checked by Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Craig Lassig)
