Shane Bieber's final start before the trade deadline likely didn't wow any scouts in attendance.
The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander had a disastrous outing during Tuesday's 8-6 loss to the Washington Nationals, allowing four runs on just one hit while walking six in only two-thirds of an inning. He didn't strike out a batter during the abbreviated start.
In addition to marking the shortest start of his nine-year career, Bieber's six walks set a new Blue Jays franchise record for bases on balls issued in a single inning, according to Sportsnet Stats. He's just the ninth pitcher since 1898 to walk six-plus batters while recording two or fewer outs in a start, and the first since the Florida Marlins' Ryan Dempster in 2001, per Stathead.
Bieber explained that he had issues gripping the baseball during the game, which was delayed over an hour due to rain.
"You have to find a way to get through it, right? I wasn't able to do that tonight," he said postgame, according to Sportsnet's Hazel Mae. "So ultimately, (I) followed up what was maybe my best start as a Blue Jay with what was definitely my worst."
Bieber was finally removed after issuing his second bases-loaded free pass of the game to Jacob Young in the first.
Bieber, the 2020 AL Cy Young winner, owns a 5.74 ERA and 1.63 WHIP with 22 strikeouts and 18 walks in seven starts this season.
