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Blue Jays Should Shut Down Dylan Cease

Originally posted on Lindy's Sports | By Adam Martin | Last updated Sep 19, 2026 2:21 PM ET

After enduring the worst start of his otherwise brilliant 2026 MLB season, the Toronto Blue Jays need to seriously consider shutting down staff ace Dylan Cease.

The Cy Young hopeful did not look like his typical self against the Texas Rangers in a 7-1 loss on Friday, Sept. 18.

He pitched just 2.2 innings, allowing three hits and six walks, along with four runs, although only one was earned due to some bad defensive play by the Blue Jays.

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More concerning, however, was a dip in velocity, as Cease was throwing in the low 90s, which is not like him, as he usually throws in the upper 90s.

His velocity has slowly been ticking down for several starts now, as he has clearly endured the aches and pains of a long season.

And that is why the Blue Jays need to pull the plug and shut him down for the rest of the season.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider shouldn’t let Dylan Cease take the mound again this season.Derik Hamilton / Getty Images

Blue Jays Aren’t Making the Playoffs

As much as this will pain Blue Jays fans to hear it, Toronto is not making the postseason this year.

The team is 76-78 right now, and with just eight games left in the season, they are 2 GB of the third and final American League Wild Card spot.

Technically, they still have a chance. But realistically, the season is over.

Toronto has to pass both the Rangers and the Chicago White Sox in the standings, but both of those teams have the tiebreaker over the Blue Jays, so it’s actually 3 GB, not 2.

That’s a big problem when there are just eight games left in the season.

The Blue Jays tried hard in the second half to make a run, so you have to give the team some credit, as they could have easily thrown in the towel at the trade deadline when they sent away some of their veterans like Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho.

But the team made a late run to try and get back into the playoffs. In the end, though, they are sadly going to come up short.

With very little time left in the season, and with 2027 the more important year to now consider, the Blue Jays shouldn’t allow Cease to potentially injure himself for meaningless games.

That’s why the team needs to do the smart thing and end his season.

This article first appeared on Lindy's Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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