Shane Bieber returns to Columbus for rehab start Sunday
Cleveland's ace takes another step towards returning to The Show.
When the Columbus Clippers take the field Sunday afternoon, they'll do so with a familiar face on the mound. Former Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber is expected to pitch as the Clippers resume their game against the Buffalo Bisons at Huntington Park.
Saturday’s contest was halted in the third inning due to severe weather that brought heavy rain and dangerous lightning to the Columbus area. Play will resume from that point Sunday at 12:05 p.m., with Bieber set to take over on the mound.
The Cleveland Guardians ace is working his way back from Tommy John surgery and has been ramping up rehab appearances in the minors. Just five days ago, Bieber threw 43 pitches (30 for strikes) for the Lake County Captains, the Guardians’ High-A affiliate. He struck out four and allowed one earned run over three innings.
Barring any setbacks, the Guardians are targeting an August return to the big-league rotation.
“More than anything, we want to make sure we're building him up to the point when he's ready to rejoin the major league rotation, he's capable of handling the workload of a starting pitcher,” Guardians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti told the Akron Beacon Journal.
Sunday’s game can be seen on MLB.TV.