Dylan Cease on pace to climb Blue Jays' single-season strikeout ranks

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

Dylan Cease on pace to climb Blue Jays' single-season strikeout ranks

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Sep 14, 2026 4:04 PM ET

Dylan Cease is 56 strikeouts away from breaking the Toronto Blue Jays' single-season strikeout record. He currently has 236 this season, which is a career-high for the frontline ace.

Considering he only has two to three regular season starts remaining, it's unlikely that he will reach 292 strikeouts, which would tie him with Rogers Clemens.

But Cease will certainly climb the ranks and likely surpass Kevin Gausman (237), and Robbie Ray (248). He will likely come close to reaching 271, which was achieved by Clemens in 1998.

The 30-year-old ace is averaging 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings (K/9) this season, which is a career-high. His elite rate has him tied in strikeouts with NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski. As well, Cease's strikeout rate of 35.3% sits in the 99th percentile and he's already surpassed his strikeout total from 2022 with the Chicago White Sox, when he collected 227.

Dylan Cease is 56 Ks shy of breaking the Blue Jays' single-season strikeout record pic.twitter.com/czQ7TK3zhz
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) September 14, 2026

Dylan Cease has continued to provide strong outings for the Blue Jays

Cease has continued to show that even when he doesn't have his best stuff, he still brings his A-game. After getting himself into a bases-loaded jam with zero outs in the first inning on Sunday against the Baltimore Orioles, he went on to strike out the next three batters, escaping the inning with no damage.

While he only pitched five innings and drew five walks, he picked up his 11th win while recording nine strikeouts. He's recorded three double-digit strikeout performances this season and one of those include a career-high in strikeouts with 12, which came against the Boston Red Sox on July 25. Cease has also flirted with a no-hitter twice this season and has continued to anchor the Blue Jays' rotation.

Cease also joins an elite list of dominant starters this season who have recorded a sub-3.00 xERA and a strikeout rate of 28% or more this season with over 150-plus innings pitched. In addition to Cease, the list includes Misiorowski, Jesus Luzardo, Cam Schlittler and Payton Tolle.

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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