Cleveland Indians: Shane Bieber could be the answer they seek
By David Hill
Even though the Cleveland Indians are beginning to pull away in the AL Central, they still have plenty of pitching woes. Shane Bieber could be the answer in the starting rotation.
The Cleveland Indians received some good news and some bad news regarding their pitching staff over the past few days. On the positive side, Carlos Carrasco is expected to be back in the next few days. However, on the negative side, Danny Salazar had season ending surgery on his shoulder, leaving the Indians with an opening at the back of their rotation.
While the Indians may have had questions as to who would fill that spot, it appears as though they have found the answer. Since being called up for the second time, Shane Bieber has been a revelation, helping to solidify that fifth starter spot in the rotation.
Over the course of his five major league outings, Bieber has posted a 4-0 record. The Indians have won every one of those starts, as Beiber has not allowed more than four runs in any of those outings. In his 30.1 innings, he has posted a 2.97 ERA and a 1.385 WHiP, striking out 29 batters while allowing only five walks.
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This performance mirrors his production in the minors. There, Bieber became renowned for his stellar command and advanced feel for pitching, as he seemingly could place the ball wherever he desired. The former fourth round draft pick in the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft has rocketed through the Indians system, displaying that same impressive command throughout his professional journey.
In just 274 minor league innings, Bieber had proved he belongs in the majors. He posted an impressive 2.20 ERA and a 0.971 WHiP, striking out 255 batters with only 18 walks. Of those 18 free passes, two were intentional, showing his astonishing command of the strike zone. This season, in his 31 innings at AA before he was moved to the International League, Beiber struck out 30 batters with only one free pass.
That utterly impressive command helps Bieber be the strikeout pitcher that his fastball would otherwise indicate. That fastball sits around 93 MPH, a tick above average, but is complimented well by his slider and curve. He can also throw any of his offerings for strikes at any give time, allowing him to keep hitters off balance. That mix has certainly worked thus far in his burgeoning major league career.
Next: Indians are elite once more
The Cleveland Indians still need pitching help, but Shane Bieber appears to have solidified the back of the starting rotation. Now that he has a permanent spot, he may never leave.