Guardians Name Shane Bieber 2024 Opening Day Starter
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The Cleveland Guardians are scheduled to begin their 2024 season in nine days, when they are set to face the Oakland Athletics on Thursday, March 28 at 10:07 p.m. ET.
Cleveland’s first pitcher on the mound is set to be the same for the fifth consecutive season.
On Tuesday, the Guardians announced that longtime ace Shane Bieber will be the team’s 2024 Opening Day starter.
According to The Athletic’s Zack Meisel, Bieber’s fifth consecutive Opening Day start would tie him with two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber (2015-19) and Hall-of-Famer Stan Coveleski (1917-21) for the most consecutive Opening Day starts in Cleveland franchise history.
Additionally, according to Meisel, the 28-year-old would also be tied for the third-most overall Opening Day starts in franchise history with Kluber, Hall-of-Famer Bob Lemon, and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner CC Sabathia, trailing only Coveleski (six) and Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller (seven).
Mar 30, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber (57) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park.
© Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Bieber has excelled in his previous Opening Day starts over the past four seasons.
He has gone 1-1 with a 1.19 ERA, 33 strikeouts, four walks, a 0.93 WHIP, and a .198 opposing batting average in 22.2 innings of work. This includes a pair of double-digit strikeout performances in 2020 (14) and 2021 (12).
Most recently, the right-hander pitched six scoreless innings in the team’s season-opener last season against the Seattle Mariners. He allowed six hits and no walks, while throwing three strikeouts in 87 pitches (57 strikes).
After returning from injury near the end of last season, Bieber has had a strong spring training so far. In three starts, he has gone 1-0 with a 2.38 ERA, 12 strikeouts, six walks, a 0.97 WHIP, and a .143 opposing batting average in 11.1 innings of work.
