Shane Bieber's first start of the 2026 season did not go as planned, and the Toronto Blue Jays' comeback fell short in an extra-innings loss to the Houston Astros on Tuesday. The Astros won 9-7 in 11 innings at Rogers Centre, dropping the Blue Jays to a game under .500.
Bieber's rough return
The former Cy Young winner, delayed by right elbow inflammation, gave up a run in the first inning and appeared fortunate to escape the first three innings with only that one against him. But in the fourth, the bottom of the Astros order struck. Yainer Diaz, Cam Smith, and Taylor Trammell hit back-to-back-to-back home runs off Bieber, giving Houston a 4-0 lead. Bieber was charged with four runs over 3 2/3 innings before being pulled. Tommy Nance inherited two runners and intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez before getting Christian Walker to fly out.
Blue Jays battle back
The Blue Jays chipped away starting in the fourth inning when newcomer Luis Urias hit a two-run homer, his first as a Blue Jay. In the seventh, Daulton Varsho tied the game with a two-run shot to the second deck in right off Enyel De Los Santos. Cleanup hitter Kazuma Okamoto gave Toronto its first lead in the eighth with a two-out single that scored George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., making it 6-4.
Bullpen struggles
The bullpen held the Astros scoreless from the fourth through the eighth, with Nance, Mason Fluharty, Spencer Miles, and Jeff Hoffman combining for five shutout innings. But in the ninth, Tyler Rogers allowed three singles and a catcher's interference call that plated one of two runs, tying the game. Closer Louis Varland was given the day off due to heavy usage.
Brayden Fisher worked a clean 10th and struck out the first two batters in the 11th after an intentional walk to Alvarez. Then former Blue Jay Joey Loperfido hammered a 1-2 pitch into the seats for a three-run homer, the game-winner. Toronto scored one in the bottom of the 11th but fell short.
Roster moves and injury news
To make room for Bieber, the Jays optioned right-hander Lazaro Estrada to Triple-A Buffalo and designated right-hander Hayden Juenger for assignment. Reliever Yimi Garcia, recovering from right elbow surgery, experienced soreness after a rehab outing with Buffalo and is returning to Toronto for evaluation, potentially signaling another shutdown.
The Blue Jays left 13 runners on base, while the Astros stranded 11. With the loss, Toronto falls to 34-35. The series wraps up Wednesday with Trey Yesavage on the mound and a depleted bullpen.
