The Cleveland Guardians have received encouraging news on Tanner Bibee, just in time for his expected start on Tuesday.
After leaving his Opening Day start with right shoulder discomfort, Bibee remains day-to-day ahead of a potential outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The signs are good, but the Guardians staff hasn’t committed to anything yet.
What Happened on Opening Day
Bibee’s first start of the season didn’t go quite as planned. The 27-year-old struck out seven batters in the Guardians’ 6-4 win before he began dealing with discomfort that built throughout the outing and exited before the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners. Trainers and coaches met him on the mound before he walked off for further evaluation.
“It was kind of off and on the entire time,” Bibee said, per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com. “It kind of got to a point where I couldn’t really battle through it and give my best stuff. I didn’t want to hurt myself or the team in turn.”
Even with the shortened outing, Bibee was effective. He allowed three runs on four hits over five innings, striking out seven and walking two in a no-decision during Cleveland’s 6–4 win.
There’s been steady progress since then.
Bibee underwent strength testing after the game, and manager Stephen Vogt said he showed good strength during the evaluation. The team has not indicated any serious concern.
Bibee threw a 26-pitch bullpen session Saturday and felt good afterward, which marked an important step in his recovery. Still, Cleveland has kept him listed as day-to-day and hasn’t rushed the decision.
Facing the Dodgers is one of the toughest assignments on the schedule. Even if Bibee is cleared, it’s not an easy spot to return at anything less than full strength.
Guardians’ Outlook if Bibee Sits
If the Guardians need a change of plans on Tuesday, left-hander Logan Allen is the most likely option to step in.
Allen is stretched out and available, making him a natural replacement for a spot start if Cleveland decides to push Bibee back.
That flexibility gives the Guardians room to be cautious without disrupting the rotation long term. Allen was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on March 21, but started 29 games for the Guardians in 2025 and struck out a career-best 122 batters.
Bibee’s status likely won’t be finalized until closer to game time.
If he starts, attention will shift to how he looks early and how deep he can go. If not, it will confirm Cleveland is prioritizing the bigger picture with one of its key starters.
For now, the situation is trending in the right direction.
The Guardians are set to begin the three-game series in Los Angeles with Parker Messick taking the hill at 10:10 p.m. ET on MLB.TV.
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