Cleveland Guardians news for July 2025: Ace Shane Bieber begins his rehab assignment, while Paul Sewald hits the IL. Get the latest on the team's second-half outlook.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The All-Star break is supposed to be quiet, a four-day pause in the marathon of a baseball season. But for Guardians fans, Wednesday brought the news they've been waiting for all year: Shane Bieber is officially on a rehab assignment. While the team rests up for the second half, the ace is taking his first concrete step back to the big league mound.
The biggest move of the All-Star break might not be a trade, but the first official step of Shane Bieber's return to the mound.
It's official. On Wednesday, the Guardians sent former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber to the Arizona Complex League to begin a rehab assignment. This is the moment we've all been anticipating. While it's just the first step, it's a monumental one in his recovery. A start in the ACL means he'll face live hitters in a controlled environment, a crucial test for his arm. The timeline for his return to Cleveland is still fluid, but seeing him assigned to a team, any team, is a massive boost of morale. A healthy Bieber anchoring the rotation for the stretch run could be the single most impactful addition this team makes all season.
Unfortunately, the good news was tempered by a loss in the bullpen. RHP Paul Sewald was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to July 13. The team hasn't specified the nature of the injury, which always adds a layer of concern. Sewald has been a reliable arm in high-leverage situations, and his absence will create a void. This puts more pressure on the back-end of the bullpen to hold leads as the team enters a critical part of its schedule. Who will step up in his absence will be a key storyline to watch.
With no game on the schedule Thursday, the Guardians are getting their final day of rest before the second-half grind begins. The last time we saw them, they were wrapping up a series against the White Sox on Sunday. Now, they turn their attention to a weekend series at home against the Oakland Athletics, starting Friday, July 18. This homestand kicks off the final stretch, and every game matters. The team will need to navigate Sewald's absence while eagerly awaiting Bieber's progress in Arizona. The break is almost over, and the real test is about to begin.
The quiet of the All-Star break is over. As the Guardians prepare to host the A's on Friday, the narrative for the second half is clear: overcome the new challenge in the bullpen and hang on until the ace returns. The push for the postseason starts now.
