Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber has been placed on the 15-day injured list, dealing a blow to the team’s wild-card aspirations as they head into the final stretch of the season. The veteran player is sidelined due to inflammation in his teres major muscle beneath his right shoulder, with the move backdated to the day after his recent standout performance against the Tampa Bay Rays. Blue Jays manager John Schneider revealed that Bieber experienced discomfort during a bullpen session, leading to an MRI showing a moderate to mild teres major injury.

Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner, holds a 5-2 record this season with a 4.37 earned-run average. He previously faced a stint on the injured list earlier in the year due to elbow and forearm issues. Schneider expressed hope for Bieber’s return this season but refrained from providing a specific timeline.

With Toronto currently two games behind in the American League wild-card race, the loss of Bieber comes at a challenging juncture. Schneider acknowledged the unfortunate timing of the injury but emphasized the team’s resilience in managing setbacks throughout the season.