CLEVELAND — Tanner Bibee became the first pitcher in Cleveland’s 125-year franchise history to go winless through his first 13 starts of a season following his outing on May 31, 2026. He is 0–7 with a 4.57 ERA through those starts.
On May 31, 2026, Bibee started for the Cleveland Guardians against the Boston Red Sox, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings while striking out five and walking one. He threw 90 pitches, 62 of them strikes, and gave up a leadoff home run to Jarren Duran—the fourth such leadoff homer he has allowed in 2026.
The Guardians led 4–3 entering the seventh inning after José Ramírez hit an RBI double when Boston left fielder Masataka Yoshida lost the ball in the sun, and Chase DeLauter followed with an RBI single. However, Boston scored six runs in the seventh to win 9–4, stranding Bibee with another no-decision.
Bibee is one of four Opening Day starters since 1976 with at least 12 winless starts before June, joining Kyle Freeland (2025), José Ureña (2018), and Carl Morton (1976). His 13 starts without a win before June are the most in that span, and his seven losses are tied for the second most among the 12 Opening Day starters who had at least 10 winless starts before June.
Cleveland general manager Chris Antonetti said, "We haven’t scored a lot of runs when Tanner’s been on the mound, even in some of the starts in which he’s pitched exceptionally well." Bibee has recorded six quality starts in 2026, including four in his past five outings.
Manager Stephen Vogt noted improvement in Bibee’s changeup compared to his previous start on May 25, 2026, when he allowed seven runs in three innings against Washington. Bibee, who finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2023 and posted a 22–12 record with a 3.25 ERA in his first two seasons, signed a five-year, $48 million contract during spring training in 2025.
"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. He added, "You want to win games, but I feel like it’s important to know pitching; you’re playing a completely different sport than the other nine people in the field. So it’s just figuring out what the kind of self-evaluation of it."