Blue Jays vs. Pirates Preview: Shane Bieber closing in on Toronto debut

Despite losing the finale on Sunday to the Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays once again posted a successful homestand in which they went 4-2. In doing so, the Blue Jays now head on a six-game road trip holding a five-game lead over the Boston Red Sox in the American League East division. Toronto will take on prospering old friend Spencer Horwitz and the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game set starting on Monday.

The Pirates and Blue Jays haven’t had an extensive history playing each other in interleague play. In fact, the two teams have only met 24 times in total, with Toronto holding a 16-8 advantage over Pittsburgh in the head-to-head matchup. The Blue Jays have dominated the Pirates in recent years, having taken the past eight of nine dating back to 2022. As a result, Toronto will be looking forward to continuing that dominance this week.

Blue Jays vs. Pirates Preview: Looks like Shane Bieber is set to return to Toronto soon

But that won’t be the only thing that the Jays will be anticipating this coming week as their huge trade deadline acquisition in Shane Bieber appears all but ready to make his debut for Toronto very soon. Bieber likely made his final rehab appearance this past Friday with the Jays’ Triple-A affiliate Buffalo Bisons.

The star right-hander went a strong seven innings, the most he has pitched this entire year during his rehab, scattering just six hits with four strikeouts and zero walks. In total, Bieber has posted a solid 2.04 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, along with just two walks and 16 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings pitched over three rehab starts since joining the Jays organization.

With Toronto looking for that difference maker down the stretch to take them to the next level, Bieber can be exactly that. Despite missing over a year due to Tommy John surgery, along with a setback earlier this season, all recent signs have been encouraging, pointing towards a strong finish for him in the coming weeks. After all, Bieber is a former Cy Young winner with a career 3.22 ERA and .660 winning percentage.

But before we all get carried away with his eventual debut with the Jays, let’s take a look at the pitching matchups in the series against the Pirates. Toronto will trot out the trio of Kevin Gausman (8-9, 3.79 ERA), Max Scherzer (3-2, 3.83 ERA) who is coming off his best start of the season, and Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22 ERA). Pittsburgh looks to counter with pitching ace phenom Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.13 ERA), followed by Mitch Keller (5-11, 4.13 ERA) and to be determined for Wednesday’s game.

With the exact reciprocal in records this season (Toronto at 73-52, and Pittsburgh at 52-73), the Blue Jays will hope to celebrate Bieber’s eventual return by taking care of the Pirates first.