Shane Bieber, three relievers combine to shut out White Sox

The Jays will send Trey Yesavage to the mound Sunday.

Published Jul 18, 2026  •  Last updated 5 minutes ago  •  2 minute read

Shane Bieber of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning during the game against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre on July 18, 2026 in Toronto. Photo by Vaughn Ridley /Getty Images

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Wouldn’t it be fitting if the day the Jays unveiled a statue commemorating back-to-back World Series titles, the current Jays fortunes in this topsy-turvy 2026 season finally righted themselves?

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Obviously we won’t know if that’s the actual case for weeks yet, but on a day of fond memories, there were at least indications that brighter things might be ahead for this version of the Jays.

It began with starting pitcher Shane Bieber, who appeared to be the version of himself as a former Cy Young winner rather than the returning from injury pitcher who has been struggling to get back to form.

Bieber took on the Chicago White Sox, who had won four in a row, were the nobody-could-have-guessed American League Central leaders, and have scored the second most runs in the American League.

Bieber shut them down almost completely in an much-needed 1-0 Toronto win.

Over six innings, his longest start to date of his five 2026 games, Bieber held the Sox to three hits and two walks without allowing a run.

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Of the three hits he did give up, all were doubles, and all eventually were stranded on the bases.

Bieber used his slider, his knuckle curve and stayed mostly with off-speed pitches to keep this powerful lineup at bay.

The only support he needed, and sadly the only support he got, came in the fourth inning. George Springer delivered a one-out single that scored Vladimir Guerrero, who began the inning with a double.

Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Rogers, and Louis Varland each threw a shutout inning to complete the four-hit blanking. For Varland, it was his 20th save of the season.

White Sox starter Davis Martin was tagged for only that one run over his 5 2/3 innings and took the loss.

The Jays will send Trey Yesavage to the mound Sunday looking for the series win. The White Sox have not declared a starter for the game.

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