Bieber takes blame after rocky debut as Blue Jays see comeback effort fall short late

The 31-year-old former American League Cy Young winner had been out with right elbow inflammation before making his return to the lineup.

Bieber had hoped Tuesday would go similarly to how his first start of 2025 went when he returned from Tommy John surgery. He struck out nine batters and only gave up two hits and one run in his Aug. 22, 2025, start last season against Miami.

“I guess it feels a little bit similar,” Bieber said. “… But I think my first start last year was sharp. That’s what I had hoped to do today. I envisioned it going a lot differently.”

However, manager John Schneider was happy to have Bieber back and said he’ll “get his footing as he goes.”

“For one, good to have him back,” Schneider said. “After the first … I thought was good. Changeup was really good. The back-to-back-to-back homers obviously stand out. And I think just some mislocation with the heater.”

Despite Bieber’s tough outing, the bullpen gave the team a chance to win most of the way. Missed opportunities early and late in the game, however, hurt Toronto.

The Blue Jays left the bases loaded in the first inning, runners on second and third in both the second and fifth, runners on first and second in the sixth and a runner at third in the 10th.

Toronto also let a late lead slip away. Reliever Tyler Rogers loaded the bases in the ninth inning as the Astros scored twice — one run coming on catcher’s interference — to erase a 6-4 deficit and send it to extra innings.

“A few early, few late,” Schneider said when asked about the points in the game that could have gone differently. “And I think just looking at chances of scoring position throughout the game yesterday (and) today. Yeah, it could have been a different outcome for sure.

“You got the guys up that you want. I looked back at that. I thought that we did a good job clawing back, with the homers from Luis (Urias) and (Daulton Varsho), and definitely had chances. I think it’s just a matter of getting the hit.”

Schneider said the result is frustrating but pointedly acknowledged that the effort was there.

“It’s easy for me to say a loss is a loss when you lose 16 to 2,” he said. “This will be frustrating until midnight or 12:01. I think whenever you have a chance to win and you have guys up that you want, yeah, it’s frustrating.

“But it’s not for a lack of effort or compete or whatever it is. You want guys to execute all the time. But I think, yeah, that’s a frustrating one where you feel like you had it. You had multiple chances and just didn’t get it done. But that’s baseball.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2026.

Abdulhamid Ibrahim, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Bieber takes blame after rocky debut as Blue Jays see comeback effort fall short late

What's Happening