Tanner Bibee Faces First Major League Adversity As Tigers Tee Off

Tanner Bibee gives up four runs to the Detroit Tigers in series opener with the Cleveland Guardians.

Well, you can't be sharp every night and some starts you're just not going to have your best stuff. That's just the way it goes. Tanner Bibee found this out the hard way as he was faced with the real adversity of his Big League career.

The Detroit Tigers got to the Cleveland Guardians' starting pitcher early on, punching him out of the game before the fourth inning was over. 

Bibbee came into the third start of his career as one of just three pitchers in MLB history who had pitched 11.0 or more innings and had 13 or more strikeouts without issuing a walk. 

May 8, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (61) delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

The other two pitchers were Johnny Cueto in 2008 and Andy Sonnanstine in 2007. However, Bibbee walked the first batter of the game which would end up setting the tone for the rest of his start.

The rookie only lasted 3.2 innings giving up four earned runs on seven hits. He uncharacteristically struggled with his command against a Tigers team who is seeing the ball well at the plate right now. 

Just 37 of Bibbee's 67 pitches were thrown for strikes as we walked a staggering four batters. 

The damage didn't come off of home runs. The Tigers gave the Guardians a taste of their own medicine stringing together hit after hit. Zach McKinstry, Javier Baez, Nick Maton, and Riley Greene all took their turns with RBI base hits. 

Bibee clearly didn't have his best stuff on Monday night. However, these are the hurdles that have to be expected from a rookie pitcher who's only made three starts at Triple-A. 

This start will not define him or his career, but Bibee has to learn from it and come back ready to go for his next start. 

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Photo Credit © David Richard-USA TODAY Sports