Guardians Announce Wild Card Series Game 1 Starter

The Cleveland Guardians make a fairly unsurprising choice to start Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Shane Bieber will get the ball on Friday afternoon in the first game against the Rays. 

Shane Bieber, Vicious 81mph Knuckle Curve...and Sword. ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/gjgX3jRKge

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 2, 2022

Bieber has enjoyed a nice bounce-back season, posting a strong 2.88 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and 198 strikeouts across 200 innings of work this season. In 31 starts, Bieber has a 13-8 record. He was three starts and 14 innings shy of tying career highs in those categories, set in the 2019 season. 

The twenty-seven-year-old has made two starts this season against the Rays. In the first game, back on July 29, Bieber threw a gem, going seven innings of one-run baseball, allowing five hits, walking two and striking out eight. The Guardians won that game 4-1. 

The second start Bieber made against the Rays was as recently as September 27. He was not as solid in that game, going six innings, allowing four earned runs, six hits and striking out six. The Rays won the game 6-5 in extra innings. 

It will be Shane Bieber vs Shane McClanahan on Friday at 12:07 PM ET in Game 1 in Cleveland. 

Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports