Dylan Cease sets franchise record in first Blue Jays start

In December, the Blue Jays and Cease agreed to a seven-year, $210 million deal, the largest free-agent contract in franchise history. That was a bit of a gamble since last year was the 2022 AL Cy Young Award runner-up's worst since his 2019 rookie season.

Cease allowed a 4.55 earned run average (ERA) in 168 innings in 2025, giving up a career-high 21 home runs. But he also led the majors in strikeouts per nine innings (11.5), and he overpowered the Athletics from the lead-off batter onward.

Cease struck out first baseman Nick Kurtz on five pitches to start the game, ending the at-bat with consecutive swinging strikes on sliders.

The former White Sox and Padres pitcher followed with seven consecutive strikeouts from the last out of the top of the third inning to the end of the fifth, ending the sequence by getting centerfielder Denzel Clarke to swing on a slider out of the zone.

Cease notched his 12th strikeout an inning later, sending Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers down swinging on a 98 mph four-seam fastball to finish the seven-pitch at-bat before being pulled three batters later.

Per Stathead research, since 2021, Cease ranks first in the majors in strikeouts, throwing 1,118 during that span after Saturday. He was in peak form in his Blue Jays debut, a promising sign for what could end up being a fruitful partnership. After one start, it already is.