Shane Bieber stands alone in MLB history after another lights out performance Sunday afternoon.
Shane Bieber is putting up legendary numbers only four starts into the 2021 season. The Cleveland Indians ace had 12 strikeouts in each of his first two starts and added 11 more during the week in a nine-inning scoreless outing against the Chicago White Sox.
Bieber was on the mound Sunday in Cincinnati and added 13 more to his yearly total. This is a mind-boggling pace and it turns out Bieber has done something never seen before. At least not since the 1800s.
SHANE BIEBER! 10 STRIKEOUTS! AGAIN!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 18, 2021
He now has 10+ K in each of his 1st 4 starts this season
He's the 1st pitcher with 10+ K in his 1st 4 starts of a season since the mound was moved to its current distance in 1893
(h/t @EliasSports)
Shane Bieber stands alone in MLB history
No one has ever done what Bieber is currently doing. Getting 10 strikeouts in any start is impressive. That is now the expectation for Bieber, who has 48 strikeouts in four starts.
The history keeps on coming as there are so many angles to what Bieber is doing. He can now put himself in elite company alongside Nolan Ryan in terms of having a hot start.
HE CAME BACK OUT FOR MORE! AND TIED NOLAN RYAN!
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 18, 2021
That's 48 strikeouts in Shane Bieber's 1st 4 appearances this year, tied with 1978 Nolan Ryan for most thru 4 apps in a season (since at least 1906)
UNBELIEVABLE https://t.co/zfxM6lBoRk
Let’s also give a quick shoutout to Sarah Langs for being on top of all these impressive marks.
Bieber won the American League Cy Young Award in 2020 thanks to a year in which he had at least eight strikeouts in all of his 12 starts. That means he is set to break another record this month.
Shane Bieber has now had at least 8 strikeouts in 16 consecutive games.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) April 18, 2021
That's tied with Pedro Martinez as the second longest such streak, trailing only Randy Johnson, who had at least 8 strikeouts in 17 straight games.
The Cleveland ace not getting at least eight strikeouts in a game would be a shock at this point.
Bieber is the reigning Cy Young winner for a reason and not even the great Gerrit Cole can compete with this current pace. The award is Bieber’s to lose as he seems to be getting better with each and every start. Fans must remember he is still only 25 years old.