The Toronto Blue Jays took a chance when they traded for Shane Bieber.
The Cleveland Guardians' star right-handed pitcher hadn't even thrown in the major leagues this season when he moved at the trade deadline. He was still working his way back from Tommy John surgery.
But the Blue Jays knew they'd need him. They had to take that chance.
And on Wednesday night, that risk comes to the forefront.
The Blue Jays are in Seattle, trailing the ALCS by two games to none to the Mariners.
Bieber gets the baseball for Toronto in the most important game of their season.
Has a comeback happened before from down 3-0 in the ALCS? Yes.
Is it likely? Not at all.
That's where Bieber comes in. It's as close to a must-win start as the Blue Jays will have all year in a non-elimination game.
They need Bieber, on this night, to channel the pitcher that once won a Cy Young and a pitching triple crown.
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If Bieber can shut down the Mariners, the Blue Jays can resume having legitimate hopes of making it to the World Series.
In the regular season, Bieber made seven starts for the Blue Jays. He had a 3.57 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
He has made just one start so far this postseason, when he went 2.2 innings against the Yankees and allowed five hits and three runs.
Toronto will need better than that out of Bieber tonight, who hasn't pitched on a game mound since Oct. 7.
Bieber will be fresh, and now it's up to him to prove that the Blue Jays were smart to swing a deal for him.
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