Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Anticipates normal offseason
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Cease (shoulder) said Friday that he anticipates having a relatively normal offseason, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Surgery was ruled out, but Cease will take some downtime over the next several weeks to allow the inflammation in his shoulder to subside. He still expects to be ready for the start of spring training in 2027. A Cy Young candidate throughout much of the campaign, Cease finishes the 2026 season with a 2.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 239 strikeouts across 29 starts and 169 innings.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Done for season
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The Blue Jays placed Cease on the 15-day injured list Wednesday with right shoulder inflammation.
The Blue Jays have already confirmed that Cease's shoulder will not require surgery, but with less than a week remaining in the regular season and Toronto out of the race for a wild-card spot, the 30-year-old's move to the injured list will officially end his season. He enjoyed one of the best campaigns of his career during his first year in Toronto, registering a 2.40 ERA and 1.10 WHIP while striking out a career-high 239 batters in 169 innings (29 starts).
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Does not need surgery
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Cease does not need surgery on his injured right shoulder, but his immediate availability is up in the air, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.
An MRI showed inflammation, with Cease saying his shoulder feels a "bit heavy and achy and not normal." In the unlikely event that the Blue Jays squeeze their way into the postseason, the right-hander could eventually return to pitch. However, it's a long shot that he will be back later this week before the curtains close on the regular season. Cease has collected a 2.40 ERA and 239:78 K:BB over 169 innings covering 29 starts in his first year with the Blue Jays.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Chased early in loss
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Cease (11-6) took the loss against the Rangers on Friday, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and six walks with three strikeouts over 2.2 innings.
Cease allowed four runs in the second inning, three of which crossed home after a throw by Ernie Clement hit a baserunner. Bad luck aside, the 30-year-old Cease threw just 36 of 74 pitches for strikes and has now issued 11 walks over his last two outings while failing to pitch beyond the fifth frame in any of his past three starts. He owns a 2.40 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 239:78 K:BB across 169 innings this season and will try to finish what has been a stellar campaign strong in a road matchup with the Orioles next week.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Rare shaky outing
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Cease allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision versus the Athletics on Monday.
Cease had posted a 1.71 ERA over 58 innings spanning nine starts since the All-Star break. He found some trouble in Sacramento, though the Blue Jays' offense did enough to prevent him from taking a loss. Cease is at a 2.40 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 227:67 K:BB across 161.1 innings over 27 starts this season. The right-hander is projected to make his next start at home versus the Orioles.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Tosses six scoreless frames in win
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Cease (10-5) earned the win against the Guardians on Wednesday, allowing four hits while striking out four batters across six scoreless frames. He did not issue a walk.
Cease's streak of seven-plus strikeouts ended Wednesday at 19 starts, one shy of tying Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling for the MLB single-season record. Nevertheless, it was another strong outing from Cease, who needed only 83 pitches (56 strikes) to get through six innings, which was the first time since May 24 against the Pirates that he tossed fewer than 90 pitches. That's a positive sign for the Blue Jays, who figure to use Cease as much as possible down the stretch in an effort to reach the playoffs. He'll take a 2.25 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 156.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Athletics in what is shaping up to be a two-start week for the AL Cy Young candidate.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Dominates Yankees for eighth win
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Cease (8-5) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on two hits and five walks over 6.2 innings in a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. He struck out eight.
The right-hander struggled to find the strike zone at times, but New York hitters couldn't do much when he did get the ball over the plate -- Cease took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, only to have it broken up by a Jazz Chisholm single. Cease leads the American League in strikeouts on the season with 209, and his ERA (2.37) is second only to Cam Schlittler's 2.16, as the duo gets ready to duke it out for the Cy Young Award over the final weeks. Cease lines up to make his next start at home next weekend against the Mariners.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Reaches 200-strikeout mark
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Cease did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Yankees, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks while striking out 10 over 6.1 innings.
After allowing a double to Heliot Ramos in the first inning, Cease held New York hitless over the next five frames, including four innings with multiple strikeouts. He returned for the seventh but was pulled after surrendering a double to George Lombard, then watched from the dugout as the inherited runner came around to score. Cease reached double-digit strikeouts for the ninth time in 23 starts this season and has now surpassed 200 strikeouts in six consecutive campaigns. He's been particularly dominant since the beginning of July, posting a 1.49 ERA across eight starts. Cease is scheduled for a rematch with the Yankees in his next outing.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Yields two homers in no-decision
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Cease did not factor into the decision Tuesday against Boston, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out seven across five innings.
It was the first time since June 27 that Cease yielded at least four walks, and the two home runs he gave up tied a season high he set three times prior to Tuesday's start. Still, the right-hander extended his streak of seven-plus strikeouts to 16 starts and came away with his third consecutive no-decision. It was far from his best outing on the season, but Cease is still firmly in the mix for the AL Cy Young award, as he ranks second in the majors in strikeouts (191), fourth in ERA (2.40) and 10th in WHIP (1.07) across 131.1 innings. He's lined up to take on the Yankees this weekend at Rogers Centre.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Quality start vs. St. Louis
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Cease did not factor into the decision Friday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven across six innings.
It was another strong outing from Cease, whose lone blemish came in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Jordan Walker, though the former avoided the loss after the Blue Jays tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth. Cease has logged at least seven strikeouts in 14 consecutive starts and finished Friday's outing with 18 whiffs and 57 strikes on 96 pitches. The American League Cy Young candidate is up to 174 strikeouts this season, which is second most in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski (185). Cease will take a 2.41 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across 119.1 innings into his next start, which is lined up for next week on the road against the Astros.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Tosses complete-game shutout
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Cease (7-5) earned the win against the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out 12 in a complete-game shutout.
Cease threw a career-high 120 pitches en route to his third career complete game, shutting out the Red Sox and allowing just one hit for the second time in his past three starts. Per Keegan Matheson of MLB.com, he joins Nolan Ryan as just the second pitcher in the modern era to allow no more than one hit while going at least eight innings and striking out 10 or more batters in consecutive road outings. The 30-year-old has now logged four straight quality starts in July, allowing only three earned runs while recording 39 punchouts during that stretch. He'll take a 2.46 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 167:48 K:BB across 113.1 innings this season into a home matchup with the Cardinals next weekend.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Takes loss against Tampa Bay
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Cease (6-5) took the loss against the Rays on Monday, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven across six innings.
The seven hits and five runs allowed both matched season highs for Cease, but with two of those runs unearned, he still came away with his third straight quality start and eighth of the year. It was also the 12th time in 15 starts that Cease fanned seven or more batters, and his 155 strikeouts are second in the majors behind Jacob Misiorowski's 173. Despite Monday's loss, Cease is firmly in the conversation for the American League Cy Young award with a 2.67 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 104.1 innings. He's lined up to face the red-hot Red Sox on the road this weekend. Cease's last start at Fenway Park came June 16, when he earned the win after pitching five scoreless frames.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Nearly dials up no-no
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Cease (6-4) picked up the win Wednesday in a 10-0 rout of the Giants, scattering one hit and three walks over eight scoreless innings. He struck out 11.
The right-hander took a no-hitter into the ninth inning, but Heliot Ramos broke it up with a leadoff single, ending Cease's afternoon at 118 pitches (81 strikes). It was his sixth start of the season with double-digit strikeouts, and Cease heads into the All-Star break with a 2.56 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an American League-leading 148 strikeouts in just 98.1 innings. He's on the short list to get the start for the AL in the All-Star Game.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Spins seven shutout innings
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Cease (5-4) allowed three hits and a walk while striking out nine over seven shutout innings to earn the win Friday over the Mariners.
After posting a 2.95 ERA and 36:14 K:BB over 21.1 innings in June, Cease put in a dominant effort to begin July. Just one of the hits he allowed went for extra bases. Cease is now at a 2.79 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 137:41 K:BB through 90.1 innings over 16 starts this season. The 30-year-old is projected to make his next start in a favorable road matchup versus the Giants.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Can't find plate in Saturday's loss
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Cease (4-4) took the loss Saturday, giving up four runs on four hits and five walks over 4.2 innings as the Blue Jays fell 7-4 to the Rangers. He struck out 10.
While the right-hander did rack up his fifth double-digit strikeout game of the season, Cease struggled to find the plate consistently and issued a season-high five free passes. Walks have been an issue for Cease since he returned from a hamstring strain in early June, and over four starts this month he has a 36:14 K:BB in 21.1 innings along with a 2.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. He'll try to tighten things up in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next weekend in Seattle.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Fans eight in no-decison
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Cease did not factor into the decision Monday against the Astros, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out eight over 5.2 innings.
Cease surrendered an early RBI-single by Isaac Paredes in the first inning before settling into a groove, retiring 13 consecutive batters at one point while piling up seven strikeouts during the stretch. The right-hander ran into trouble in the sixth, issuing back-to-back walks and then allowing an RBI single to Jose Altuve that ultimately ended his night. Cease's swing-and-miss stuff remained electric, as he recorded his eighth consecutive outing with at least seven strikeouts. Since the beginning of May, the 30-year-old has posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 61:14 K:BB across 41.2 innings. He is slated to face off against Texas at home next.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Blue Jays-Cubs postponed Sunday
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Cease won't start as scheduled Sunday against the Cubs after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Chicago, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
The two teams will make up the game Aug. 6. As a result of the postponement, the Blue Jays will presumably push their full rotation back a day, putting Cease on track to start Monday's series opener versus the Astros in Toronto. Cease has been sharp over his first two starts of June, posting an 0.82 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 18:5 K:BB over 11 innings.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Activated from IL, starting Tuesday
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Toronto activated Cease (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list to start Tuesday's game against the Phillies, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
After landing on the IL with a strained hamstring May 25, Cease will rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation having made one rehab start at Triple-A. Before landing on the IL, the 30-year-old recorded a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB in 62 innings. Toronto will send down Adam Macko to Triple-A Buffalo in order to make room for Cease on the active roster.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Likely to rejoin rotation next week
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Manager John Schneider said Friday that Cease (hamstring) is "very likely" to rejoin the Blue Jays' rotation next week, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Cease threw 75 pitches across four innings in a rehab start with Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday and came out of it feeling good. He appears likely to make the start for Toronto on Tuesday at home against the Phillies. The right-hander last pitched for the Blue Jays on May 24 and owns a 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 92:26 K:BB across 62 innings this season.
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Blue Jays' Dylan Cease: Slated for 25-to-30 pitches in BP
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Cease (hamstring) is throwing a bullpen session of 25-to-30 pitches Saturday, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Cease landed on the 15-day IL on Monday, so it's promising that he's already throwing a bullpen five days later. The hurler has been optimistic that he'll be able to return to the Blue Jays' rotation when first eligible, and a successful BP on Saturday would be a big step toward making that a reality. Depending on how the bullpen goes, Cease's next step could be either another BP or facing hitters, per Zwelling.
