Tanner Bibee Wins Again – Guardians Defeat Jays 5-2

Tanner Bibee wins again!  The Cleveland Guardians rookie has seized the opportunity. Bibee got his first start of his MLB career on April 26, 2023 against the Colorado Rockies. 

In that game, Bibee pitched 5.2 innings, only giving up one run and striking out 8. Since his MLB debut, Bibee has not looked back and is currently 10-3 with a 3.01 ERA. 

Bibee continued the excellent success he has had this year by pitching 6 innings Friday night in the Guardians 5-2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.  Bibee pitched well, only giving up 2 runs and striking out five.

Of course, Bibee had help from the Guardians offense.

The Guardians scored in the third inning on a home run by Bo Naylor to tie the game at 1-1.

Bo tie.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/28hLbEQeXQ

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 25, 2023

Then in the top of the fourth, Ramon Laureano, who joined the Guardians from the Oakland A’s on August 8th, hit a two-run home run to give the Guardians a 3-1 lead.

Ro reigns.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/ZeXgVPgCWj

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 26, 2023

Laureano, in his last five games, is hitting .357 with one home run and 4 RBI.

Laureano would get his third RBI of the night when he doubled in the sixth inning to drive in a run as the Guardians took a 4-1 lead.

After the Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth, the Guardians scored their final run in the 8th inning when Andres Gimenez went yard to make the final score 5-2.

After the game, Bibee talked about his pitching performance.  

He specifically discussed the effectiveness of his change up.

“I think it is just one of those things where I feel like I have to throw it,” said Bibee”I just can’t be like a 2, 2 and a quarter pitch mix to righties.  I think being able to throw that change up to righties is a very important thing I can do to be able to go deep into the games to face guys more than three times, to face guys more than two games. I think it is just a super integral thing I need to do.”

As Bibee is having great success by being able to throw a mix of pitches to MLB batters, the success should not be surprising when you look at his minor league statistics from the previous two years and April of 2023.

In fact, with the Captains, Bibee had a 2.59 ERA in 2022. After getting moved up to AA with the RubberDucks in 2022, Bibee was 6-1 with a 1.83 ERA.

With those amazing 2022 statistics, Bibee did not, however, start the 2023 season with the Guardians.

Bibee opened the 2023 season with the Columbus Clippers.

Just like Bibee had done in single A and double AA, Bibee started great with the Clippers in 2023 going 2-0 with a 1.76 ERA.

Bibee is now a legitimate contender for the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year.

Today at 3pm, rookie Logan Allen who has a 1.59 ERA in his last three appearances and a 3.31 ERA overall will try to continue Bibee’s success as he is scheduled to start today’s 3pm contest against the Jays.