In a season full of near-misses and hard-luck outings for one of the Guardians’ most reliable arms, Tanner Bibee etched his name into Cleveland franchise history on Sunday afternoon — but not in the way anyone hoped.
Bibee became the first pitcher in the 125-year history of the Cleveland franchise to go winless in his first 13 starts of a season. Despite delivering a solid performance and receiving a season-high four runs of support — the most he’s seen in any start since Sept. 12, 2025 against the Chicago White Sox — the Guardians ultimately fell to the Boston Red Sox 9-4 at Progressive Field.
The right-hander tossed six innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts and one walk on 90 pitches (62 strikes). He left the game with a 4-3 lead, positioned for what would have been his first victory of 2026. Instead, the bullpen imploded in the seventh inning, surrendering six runs as Boston rallied for the win.
Jarren Duran kicked things off with a leadoff homer off Bibee for the second straight game. Bibee settled in nicely afterward, retiring 12 of the next 13 batters at one point, but the Guardians’ offense provided just enough breathing room before the late collapse.
Bibee is now 0-7 with a 4.57 ERA through 12 starts (roughly 63 innings pitched). While the win-loss record has been brutal, he has posted six quality starts this year, including strong recent outings. The lack of run support has been a recurring theme: the Guardians are just 2-11 in his starts entering Sunday.
“I’ve said this in the past. I don’t have any control over it. All I can do is go out there, try to throw up some zeros and whatever happens, happens,” Bibee said after the game.
Catcher Austin Hedges backed his pitcher: “Wins and losses don’t matter for starting pitchers. It’s not a stat that means anything. So I know he’s not worried about it and we’re definitely not worried about it.”
A Familiar Story for the 2023 Breakout Star
Bibee, a fifth-round pick in 2021 out of Cal State Fullerton, burst onto the scene with back-to-back strong seasons, going 22-12 with a 3.25 ERA in his first two full campaigns. He earned AL Rookie of the Year votes in 2023 and has shown ace potential. However, this year has tested him, with inconsistency creeping in after a big contract extension last spring.
Manager Stephen Vogt and GM Chris Antonetti have expressed continued confidence in Bibee, noting improved stuff (particularly his changeup) in recent starts and emphasizing that better days are ahead as the Guardians (now 34-27) push for the AL Central title.
What’s Next for Bibee and the Guardians
Sunday marked another frustrating chapter: Bibee has now gone deeper into a season without a win than any previous Cleveland pitcher. For context, he is one of just a handful of Opening Day starters since 1976 to make at least 10 starts without a victory before June.
What’s Next for Bibee and the GuardiansThe Guardians remain in solid position in the division despite the late-inning woes. Bibee will look to snap the streak in his next outing, with the team hoping the offense can finally align with his outings more consistently.For now, the focus stays on positives: quality innings, strikeouts, and limiting damage. In baseball, as Bibee and the Guardians know well, the wins eventually follow good pitching — even if the wait has been historically long this time around.