Shane Bieber loves Rogers Centre atmosphere

This is exactly what Shane Bieber hoped for when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. A raucous, sold-out Rogers Centre crowd against a top-flight opponent.

TORONTO – This is exactly what Shane Bieber hoped for when he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. A raucous, sold-out Rogers Centre crowd against a top-flight opponent.

It just wasn’t the result he wanted.

Bieber gave up two runs on five hits, striking out six over 5 1/3 innings as the Blue Jays fell to the Milwaukee Brewers 7-2 on Friday in a potential World Series preview. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner said that the 41,390 fans at Toronto’s downtown ballpark didn’t disappoint in his Rogers Centre debut.

“I think it’s good practice, right?” said Bieber after the game. “We all do this to win World Series and pitch in meaningful games and playoff games and so credit to Jays fans, they’ve had a playoff atmosphere since I’ve gotten here.

“I was very excited to go out there and pitch and compete and ultimately, just couldn’t get it done.”

Bieber was traded by the Cleveland Guardians to the Blue Jays on July 31 for pitching prospect Khal Stephen. The 30-year-old Bieber hadn’t pitched for Cleveland in 2025 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, instead making his season debut for Toronto in Miami on Aug. 22.

He was spectacular in that start, striking out nine and allowing just one run on two hits over six innings in the 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Bieber said that playing at Rogers Centre, especially in the colder weather as summer turns to fall in Canada, will take some getting used to.