Blue Jays To Start 2026 Season Without Starters Shane Bieber And Bowden Francis

Charles Walton
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game four of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium.

The Toronto Blue Jays’ starting rotation took a hit yesterday with the news that Shane Bieber and Bowden Francis were both going to miss time. Francis will miss the entire season, while a timetable for Bieber has not yet been decided on. Here are all the details.

Francis to Undergo Tommy John Surgery

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis (44) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre.
Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis (44) throws a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Photo courtesy of Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images.

Francis will miss the entire 2026 season to undergo an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John) surgery on his right elbow. Recovery time for the surgery is usually 12 to 18 months, so he could also miss some of the 2027 season as well. The 29-year-old righty had been anticipated to compete for a spot at the back end of the Blue Jays’ rotation.

Francis’ future had looked bright after a strong 2024, where he went 8-5 in 27 appearances between the rotation and the bullpen. He struck out 92 in 103 2/3 innings, posting a 3.30 ERA. Unfortunately, Bowden suffered through a right shoulder impingement in 2025, which limited him to 64 innings over 14 starts. He had a 2-8 record and a 6.05 ERA.

Bieber Forearm Injury

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eleventh inning during game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Shane Bieber (57) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the eleventh inning during game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Photo courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images.

Toronto acquired Bieber from the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline last season while he was still rehabbing from a 2024 Tommy John surgery of his own. Bieber, who took home the 2020 Cy Young after winning the pitching triple crown, was activated in late August by the Blue Jays and pitched well for the team during their drive to last year’s World Series. He went 4-2 with a 3.57 ERA in seven regular-season starts, with 37 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings. Bieber then pitched in five games (including four starts) during the playoffs, where he had a 3.86 ERA in 18 2/3 innings with 18 strikeouts.

Bieber did feel some forearm fatigue in the postseason, though. That fatigue continued over the offseason. Coming off that ligament reconstruction, that is concerning. Blue Jays manager John Schneider has decided to slow-play Bieber’s build-up for the 2026 season in an abundance of caution, and he announced that Bieber would start the season on the 15-day injured list. Schneider also said that he still hopes to get a major contribution from Bieber this season. When Bieber is healthy, he is one of the best righties in the American League. He is also a plus fielder on the mound, winning a Gold Glove in 2022.

The Blue Jays’ Rotation Options

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer (56) fields the ball during workouts at Rogers Centre.
Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Eric Lauer (56) fields the ball during workouts at Rogers Centre. Photo courtesy of Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images.

While losing Bieber and Francis will definitely hurt, Toronto should still have an excellent rotation this season. The Blue Jays will return Kevin Gausman, Eric Lauer, Jose Berrios, and young phenom Trey Yesavage from last season. The Jays also added veteran strikeout machine Dylan Cease and former Pittsburgh Pirate Cody Ponce as free agents during the offseason.

Gausman (10-11, 3.59 ERA, 189 Ks) figures to be the ace of the staff, despite having a slightly down year in 2025. Cease is a workhorse, having made at least 32 starts the last five seasons and striking out over 200 in each of those seasons. Yesavage made the postseason roster after just three major league starts, pitching in six playoff games and posting a 3-1 record with 39 strikeouts and a 3.58 ERA in 27 2/3 innings.

Lauer was a pleasant surprise for Toronto in 2025. In 28 games (15 starts), he posted a 9-2 record with 102 strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA over 104 2/3 innings. Before the injuries to Francis and Bieber, there had been talk of trading the resurgent lefty because there would not be enough innings to go around.

Now it looks like Lauer and Berrios, whose contract made him too tough to trade, will both be needed, at least to start the season. Berrios was 9-5 last season with a 4.17 ERA, striking out 138 in 166 innings. He had been tagged for a transition to the bullpen before yesterday’s announcements. Ponce, who has not pitched in the majors since 2021, and non-roster invitee Spencer Turnbull will both be given a look in spring training.

A Rough Road Back to the World Series

As the Blue Jays head into spring training, the loss of Francis and Bieber will not be the only obstacle that the team faces in its efforts to make it to a second straight World Series. Shortstop Bo Bichette and starting pitchers Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt became free agents at the end of the season, and Bichette signed with the New York Mets. Toronto will also be without slugger Anthony Santander for 5-6 months due to shoulder surgery. All of this will make for a tough road back to the AL pennant for the Blue Jays in 2026.

Charles is an MLB, NFL, NBA, WWE, and AEW fan and major stat geek, He is also a former KCUI Sports Director and play-by-play man.