Dylan Cease threatening Cam Schlittler as AL Cy Young favorite

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Dylan Cease threatening Cam Schlittler as AL Cy Young favorite

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Aug 7, 2026 2:50 PM ET

The AL Cy Young race is brewing up between Toronto Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease and New York Yankees breakout starter Cam Schlittler.

While Schlittler has been the frontrunner, Cease's dominant 0.84 ERA with 56 strikeouts since the start of July is giving him the edge as the new favorite to win the award for the first time in in his career. Cease's current hot streak has had him strengthening his chances in the AL Cy Young race as the frontrunner.

In spite of the team's continuous offensive struggles, Cease has been a significant bright spot for the Blue Jays and has been on an absolute tear. Cease's strong numbers genuinely seem ceaseless.

Despite his dominant 10-strikeout performance along with seven scoreless innings against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, the Blue Jays found themselves in the loss column (3-2). But Cease has continued to do his part as the saving grace in the Blue Jays rotation this season.

He has now lowered his ERA down to 2.28, which is within striking distance of Schlittler's AL-leading 2.26 ERA. But Cease also leads all AL pitchers with a 4.8 fWAR, a 36.4% strikeout rate, a 2.90 SIERA, a 26.1 % K-BB rate and a 2.21 FIP.

Is Dylan Cease atop the AL Cy Young race following his 10-strikeout performance at Wrigley Field? #MLBCentral pic.twitter.com/Riy69I0V6h
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 7, 2026

Dylan Cease's reliable dominance giving him edge in AL Cy Young race

Cease has been an unstoppable force with his changeup serving as a game-changer that has produced a 53.3% whiff rate as a secondary pitch. Cease has also had a massive bounce-back performance from his 4.55 ERA with the San Diego Padres in 2025, showcasing his resilience in a Blue Jays uniform.

He has recorded nine consecutive starts with 7+ strikeouts and four or less hits allowed. He's flirted with no-hit bids this season, and it would come as no surprise if he records his second career no-hitter at some point this season.

Cease has also been dominant on the road, not allowing a run across 36 consecutive innings, and is giving Schlittler some stiff competition. Cease earned AL Pitcher of the month in July.

The strikeout machine has eight double-digit strikeout performances under his belt this season along with continuously painting the corners, which has been a pitching art for the 30-year-old. He owns a 1.52 ERA with 66 strikeouts in his last seven starts, and he just continues to make his case for the AL Cy Young award.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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